970x125
The US military’s top commander in the Middle East ordered Hamas on Wednesday to end its violent crackdown on civilians following graphic videos of public executions in the middle of Gaza City.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper called on the killings to stop as the terror group deployed thousands of armed men to reassert its control over the Gaza Strip during the cease-fire with Israel.
“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza – in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line,” Cooper said in a statement.
Cooper also reiterated President Trump’s order that Hamas immediately disarm and cede its power over the Gaza Strip, demands that the terrorist group have repeatedly rejected.
“This is an historic opportunity for peace. Hamas should seize it by fully standing down, strictly adhering to President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, and disarming without delay,” Cooper said.
“We have conveyed our concerns to the mediators who agreed to work with us to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians. We remain highly optimistic for the future of peace in the region,” the CENTCOM chief added.
The statement from CENTCOM comes after Trump suggested that he was unbothered by Hamas’ violent crackdown, which saw the release of a viral video showing eight badly beaten, blindfolded men kneeling in the street before each is shot dead by Hamas gunmen in front of a cheering crowd.
Along with the executions, Hamas has been engaged in violent clashes across Gaza with powerful clans who control various territories in the Strip and oppose the terrorist group’s rule.
“That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you,” Trump said of Hamas’ crackdown. “That’s okay.
“It’s a couple of very bad gangs. It’s no different than other countries like Venezuela [that have] sent their gangs into [the US],” Trump added.
When it came to Hamas’ refusal to disarm — a key demand in Trump’s peace plan — the president warned that force will be used if necessary.
“They’re going to disarm, because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump told reporters. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.
“They know I’m not playing games,” Trump added.
