US military warns Hamas to end violence after executions video

The U.S. military is warning Hamas to stop violence in the wake of a reported video showing eight people being killed in Gaza.

“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,” Adm. Brad Cooper, who heads U.S. Central Command, said in a statement posted Wednesday morning to social platform X, referring to the IDF, the Israeli military.

“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 added.

Hamas has been undertaking a wave of retribution executions and asserting its grasp in areas of Gaza where Israel has withdrawn, underscoring the challenge facing President Trump to get the group to disarm and give up power as part of his 20-point plan for peace.

CNN reported that channels linked to Hamas sent around a video in which masked fighters, some seen with green Hamas headbands, killed eight blindfolded people in Gaza City.

The Palestinian militant group has killed at least 33 people since the ceasefire began last week, according to Reuters, which added that at least seven men were dragged into a Gaza City square on Monday and shot.

On Tuesday, Trump said he expected Hamas to disarm as called for in the peace agreement, or the U.S. would get involved.

“They’re going to disarm, because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump said. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.”

The president later clarified he did not talk directly with Hamas, but the message was handed over “through my people, at the highest levels.”

“They know I’m not playing games,” Trump said.