The top US commander in the Middle East, Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (Centcom), urged the Hamas terrorist group on Wednesday to stop violence against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The request came after he called them"collaborators (with Israel) and criminals." The footage, apparently filmed on Monday night, coincided with renewed clashes between Hamas security units and armed Palestinian clans, some of them allegedly backed by Israel.
In a statement released Wednesday, Cooper urged Hamas to"immediately cease the violence and firing against innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza."
The Centcom chief added that the Islamist organization should seize the “historic opportunity for peace” and “strictly adhere to President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, disarming without delay.” Cooper stressed that the United States’ concerns have already been conveyed to the mediators involved in the Egyptian negotiations, who have pledged to work to ensure the protection of Gazan civilians.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza went into effect last Friday under President Donald Trump's peace proposal, Hamas has consolidated its control over devastated cities in the enclave, once again taking over street patrols and publicly executing people accused of collaborating with Israel. A Palestinian security source, quoted by AFP, stated that"there will be no place for criminals or those who threaten the security of citizens," referring to the group's recent operations and summary executions.
The partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza City, as stipulated in the first phase of the agreement, allowed Hamas's masked and armed police to resume patrols in various areas. Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media showed members of the movement executing several handcuffed people amid clashes with local Palestinian militias accused of collaborating with Israeli authorities.
For his part, Trump warned the Islamist group on Tuesday that if it does not surrender its weapons voluntarily, it will be forced to do so quickly and by force. According to the US president,"Hamas, at the highest level, through my people, has secured a commitment to disarmament." The ceasefire and the start of the implementation phase of Trump's plan began last Friday, and its main points include the cessation of all forms of attacks, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The agreement, accepted by both Israel and Hamas, also included the handover of all hostages who died before Monday, October 14, although so far the group has only returned seven of the twenty-eight bodies it had held, which has generated tensions and doubts about the willingness to comply with the agreement.
If the second phase of the plan goes ahead as scheduled, it calls for the complete demilitarization of Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and a reconstruction project supported by Arab nations. Washington has pledged to deploy up to 200 troops to Israel to participate in the stabilization efforts, although the disclosed plan does not include any US troops inside the Palestinian enclave.
Israel and the United States have been emphatic in stating that Hamas will not be able to participate in the future government of Gaza. The plan itself stipulates that the Islamist group must step down, leaving the interim administration in the hands of a Palestinian committee under international supervision. The new police force that assumes control of the Strip will be trained and supported by the international stabilization mission proposed by the United States.
