US President Donald Trump told CNN on Wednesday that he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal.
"Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word. If Israel could go in and knock the crap of them, they’d do that," Trump was quoted as saying to CNN in a brief telephone call when asked what would happen if Hamas refused to disarm.
Point four of Trump's 20-point peace plan states that "all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned," within 72 hours of Israel "publicly accepting this agreement."
All 20 living hostages were freed, but only seven of the 28 remains of deceased hostages have been handed over to Israel as of Wednesday evening.
However, Trump emphasized the importance of releasing the living hostages. "Getting those 20 hostages out was paramount," he said, according to CNN.
In the days since the hostages were released, violent clashes have erupted between Hamas terrorists and rival groups, most notably the influential Doghmush clan. This included an incident that escalated to a public execution of Gazans whom the terror group accused of being "collaborators with Israel."
Trump told CNN that Hamas is "going in and clearing out the violent gangs."
"I'm doing research on it," he added when CNN asked about the possibility that Hamas was executing innocent civilians.
Trump: 'We will disarm them'
Trump warned that Hamas must disarm or "we will disarm them" in a speech on Tuesday following a meeting with Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed similar sentiments in an interview with CNN reported on Tuesday evening.
Trump's plan contemplates a future in which the terror group agrees not to have any role in governing Gaza, with the area being demilitarized and administered by an independent body.
"Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries," point six of the president's peace plan states.