Trump Threatens to Kill Hamas Over Gaza Gang Clashes, Demands Immediate Disarmament

United States President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas, threatening military action if the group continues its crackdown on Gaza-based gangs and alleged Israeli collaborators — a statement that appears to mark a sharp reversal from his earlier stance supporting Hamas’s actions. In a post shared on social media Thursday, Trump wrote: “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Speaking later to reporters, the U.S. president clarified that American troops would not enter Gaza directly but suggested that nearby allies — an apparent reference to Israel — could take action “under U.S. auspices.” “It’s not going to be us. We won’t have to,” Trump said. “There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they’ll do the trick very easily.” The comments represent a dramatic about-face for Trump, who earlier in the week appeared to condone Hamas’s violent campaign against Gaza gangs accused of looting aid and collaborating with Israel. “They did take out a couple of gangs that were very bad… and that didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you,” he told reporters on Tuesday. The latest tensions follow deadly clashes between Hamas fighters and armed clans in Gaza, which have left several people dead. Local reports say gang members armed by Israel were behind the killing of prominent Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi earlier this week. In June, Israeli officials admitted to arming certain Gaza gangs, some with ties to ISIL (ISIS), in an attempt to destabilise Hamas’s rule. The Interior Ministry in Gaza has since offered a general amnesty to gang members who did not take part in the fighting. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Hamas’s alleged execution of suspected Israeli collaborators, calling the acts a “heinous crime” and a violation of human rights. Under Trump’s ceasefire plan, Hamas is expected to fully disarm and relinquish control of Gaza’s administration — terms the group has yet to publicly accept. “They will disarm, and if they don’t, we will disarm them,” Trump warned, “and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently.” The truce, brokered earlier this week, has so far held despite continued Israeli violations that have killed several Palestinians. Israel has also delayed reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt, citing Hamas’s alleged failure to return the bodies of Israeli captives. While Trump has touted the ceasefire as ushering in “a new Middle East,” his latest threats have cast serious doubt on the future stability of the fragile truce — and on Washington’s shifting role in Gaza’s postwar order.

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Gunmen Kill Two and Abduct 12 Passengers in Benue

Gunmen Kill Two and Abduct 12 Passengers in Benue

The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has said that gunmen attacked the company’s bus, killed the driver and one passenger and abducted 12 others. The company’s information officer, Johnson Ehi, disclosed this in a statement in Makurdi on Friday.The company is owned by the Benue State government. The statement explained that the bus, with registration number PP512, was travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo when the incident happened. According to Mr Ehi, the incident occurred on Thursday, near Otukpo Burnt Bricks. The management condemned the fatal attack in very strong terms. It stated, “Regrettably, the driver of the 18-seater bus, Mr Samuel Agege, and a front-seat passenger were fatally shot by the attackers. While the gunmen attempted to abduct the remaining passengers, three individuals managed to escape, and another passenger had disembarked earlier at Taraku Town before the incident. “The management extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and stands in solidarity with those whose loved ones remain in captivity. We assure the general public that we are in constant communication with security agencies, who are making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted passengers. “We appreciate the swift response of the law enforcement agencies and express confidence in their ongoing efforts to rescue the victims.” When contacted, the Benue police command confirmed the incident. The state police public relations officer, Sewuese Anene, said, “The incident was reported but details would be made available later.”

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