CENTCOM chief calls on Hamas to halt executions after Trump downplayed them

The commander of US forces in the Middle East called on Hamas to immediately halt its violence against Palestinian civilians the group has accused of collaborating with Israel, just hours after US President Donald Trump said he had no problem with the crackdown and even referred to those targeted as “very bad gangs.”

“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,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper says in a statement. None of the dozens of executions that have been carried out over the past several days have taken place in areas of Gaza controlled by the IDF.

“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 says.

“We have conveyed our concerns to the mediators who agreed to work with us to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians. We remain highly optimistic for the future of peace in the region,” he adds.

Commenting on the executions yesterday, Trump told reporters, “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you. That’s okay. It’s a couple of very bad gangs. It’s no different than other countries like Venezuela [that have] sent their gangs into [the US].”