US warns guarantors that Hamas may be planning an 'imminent' attack on Gazan civilians

The United States has notified the guarantor nations of the Gaza ceasefire that it has received “credible reports” indicating Hamas may be preparing an imminent attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a move Washington says would be a direct and grave violation of the truce. The State Department warned that, should such an attack occur, steps would be taken to protect civilians and preserve the terms of the ceasefire.
 

The US State Department said in a statement, "This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts. The guarantors demand Hamas uphold its obligations under the ceasefire terms. Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire."

US officials did not publicly detail the intelligence underlying the alert, but the statement underscored that the guarantors expect Hamas to honor its obligations under the agreement. “The United States and the other guarantors remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians, maintaining calm on the ground, and advancing peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza and the region as a whole,” the statement added.

The warning comes as the fragile truce continues to strain. Hamas has failed to return all the bodies of dead Israeli hostages that were part of the ceasefire’s first phase. Hamas handed over two additional bodies on Saturday after pressure from Israel and mediators involved in a US-brokered deal, a step the agreement required before certain other parts of the truce could proceed.

Additionally, Hamas has moved to reassert control inside Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, carrying out a campaign against rival groups and clans that, according to multiple reports, has left dozens dead. Reuters and other outlets documented security operations in Gaza City that resulted in the killing and arrest of people described by Hamas as members of criminal or rival armed groups; some reports put the number killed in recent crackdowns at roughly 32–33. The US warning singled out such violence as incompatible with the truce’s objectives.

Over the weekend, an Israeli navy vessel fired warning shots near Khan Yunis beach, following maritime warnings to boats off the Gaza coast.

President Donald Trump reacted sharply to mounting reports of intra-Gaza killings and the US assessment about an imminent breach. In a Truth Social post, he warned that “if Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”

He also told CNN he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume operations if Hamas failed to uphold the terms of the ceasefire.