US Warns of Imminent Hamas Strike Amid Fragile Gaza Truce; Trump Administration Seeks to Cement Peace Legacy
In a development that underscores both the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire and Washington’s growing assertiveness in Middle East diplomacy, the United States on Sunday issued a stark warning about “credible intelligence” suggesting that Hamas is preparing an imminent attack in Gaza — a move that could shatter the recently brokered peace accord.
The statement from the US Department of State noted that Washington has alerted the “guarantor nations” of the Gaza peace deal — Egypt and Qatar — about intelligence indicating Hamas’s possible intent to breach the ceasefire.
The department emphasized that such an assault would represent a “grave violation” of the truce and threaten the progress achieved through painstaking negotiations.
A planned attack on Palestinian civilians would be an egregious breach of the ceasefire and would undo months of diplomacy,” the statement read, adding that if the militant group proceeds, the US and its allies would take “all necessary measures to protect civilians and preserve the integrity of the peace framework.”
While Washington’s move is being hailed internationally as a responsible step aimed at safeguarding peace and stability, it also carries a political undertone.
Observers note that former President Donald Trump, under whose administration the deal took shape, has treated the Gaza peace process as a prestige project — a chance to demonstrate America’s decisive role in restoring calm to one of the world’s most volatile regions.
By ensuring continued oversight and warning of potential violations, the US appears eager to project the image of an indispensable peace broker.
The United States and the other guarantors remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting civilians, maintaining calm, and ensuring long-term prosperity for the people of Gaza and the broader region,” the statement concluded.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The warning comes even as the first phase of the Israel–Hamas peace agreement, reached last week, continues to unfold.
The deal halted Israel’s prolonged military offensive in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
On Saturday, Israel confirmed that Hamas had handed over two coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the bodies were being sent to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification, while urging Hamas to accelerate the handover process.
Tensions, however, remain high. Israel has announced that the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main connection to the outside world, will remain closed until further notice, linking its reopening to the continued return of hostages’ remains.
Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, citing the devastation and ongoing Israeli control in parts of Gaza as reasons for delays.
So far, Hamas has returned 12 of the 28 bodies of hostages reported dead in Gaza.
The Rafah crossing, under Israeli control since May 2024, remains a focal humanitarian issue — its reopening would allow medical evacuations and family reunifications with relatives in Egypt, home to tens of thousands of Palestinians.
The Larger Picture
The situation encapsulates both progress and peril: a truce painstakingly achieved but fragile in practice.
Washington’s vigilance — and Trump’s desire to frame the peace as a foreign policy triumph — may keep diplomatic momentum alive, but on the ground, uncertainty still overshadows optimism.
As Gaza waits in tense anticipation, the world watches closely to see whether this ceasefire becomes a stepping stone toward enduring peace — or another fleeting pause in a cycle of violence.
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