The U.S. Department of State issued a warning on Saturday alerting to “credible reports” suggesting that Hamas might breach the existing peace agreement with a “planned attack” targeting Palestinian civilians.

“Such an attack on Palestinian civilians would be a serious and direct violation of the ceasefire agreement and would jeopardize the considerable progress made through ongoing mediation efforts,” stated the department on social media. “The guarantors demand that Hamas adhere strictly to the obligations outlined in the ceasefire terms.”

The statement further emphasized, “The United States, together with other guarantors, remains steadfast in our dedication to safeguarding civilian lives, maintaining stability, and fostering peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza and the broader region.”

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was successfully implemented last weekend, bringing a halt to two years of conflict in the area following the attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, members of Hamas were observed on Saturday searching for the bodies of hostages in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

On Monday, the 20 remaining surviving Israeli hostages were returned to Israel per the agreement, but more than a dozen remains of hostages who were killed are still under Hamas control. 

The State Department added that “measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire” if Hamas proceeds with the attack. 

On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued a warning on Truth Social after footage circulated online showing Hamas fighters executing Palestinians in Gaza City’s main square. 

“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 wrote.

According to Reuters, at least 33 people were executed by Hamas in recent days in what officials described as a campaign to “show strength” after the ceasefire. Israeli sources say most of those killed belonged to families accused of collaborating with Israel or supporting rival militias.

Trump later clarified that U.S. troops would not go into Gaza. 

In this still from a verified social media video confirmed to Reuters by a Hamas source, seven men are forced to their knees and shot from behind by Hamas gunmen during public executions in Gaza on Oct. 14. (Reuters)

“It’s not going to be us,” he told reporters. “We won’t have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they’ll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices.”