Trump threatens to "eradicate" Hamas if Gaza ceasefire is broken, as VP Vance arrives in Israel

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, threatening to "eradicate" the group if it violates the fragile ceasefire agreement with Israel. His remarks came as Vice President JD Vance travelled to the region on Tuesday to reinforce US support for the truce and hold high-level talks in Israel.

“We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “If they’re not, we’re going to go and we’re going to eradicate them, if we have to. They’ll be eradicated, and they know that.”

Despite weekend violence that left dozens dead, both Israel and Hamas have reaffirmed their commitment to the US-brokered ceasefire, which has been in effect since October 10. The agreement outlines a roadmap for the future of Gaza and includes provisions for hostage and prisoner exchanges.

On Monday, Hamas handed over the body of another hostage, bringing the total to 13 of the 28 it has pledged to return. Israel, however, has accused the group of stalling and warned that the ceasefire’s continuation depends on the return of all the deceased hostages.

“We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the deceased hostages, every last one of them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Hamas claims it requires more time and technical support to locate and recover the remaining bodies.

Vice President Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday for talks with Netanyahu, focusing on “the security challenges we face and the diplomatic opportunities before us,” according to the Israeli leader.

Rocky implementation of ceasefire

The ceasefire agreement has already faced serious hurdles. On Sunday, Israeli forces launched dozens of airstrikes on Gaza in response to the killing of two Israeli soldiers, using more than 150 tons of explosives. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 45 fatalities, though the numbers could not be independently verified due to media access restrictions.

Four more people were reported killed in Gaza City on Monday. The Israeli military said its troops had fired on militants who crossed ceasefire lines, while Hamas denied any such action and accused Israel of fabricating reasons to resume hostilities.

Under Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Israeli forces have pulled back behind the so-called "Yellow Line," leaving them in control of Gaza’s borders and roughly half of the territory, but not its main urban centers. Skirmishes near these new positions have continued, with Israeli troops firing on individuals they claim were approaching restricted zones.

US role and future outlook

President Trump clarified that American forces will not be directly involved in military action against Hamas, but he signaled that Israel is prepared to act swiftly if provoked. “Israel would go in in two minutes if I asked them to go in. But right now, we haven’t said that. We’re going to give it a little chance,” he said.

The conflict, which erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has led to immense human suffering. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 68,000 people killed, with the majority being women and children. These figures are considered credible by the United Nations but do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Hamas’s initial attack claimed 1,221 lives in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures compiled by AFP.

As the ceasefire enters a critical phase, the region remains tense, with the success of the truce hanging on delicate negotiations and continued restraint from both sides.

SR