US military chief calls on Hamas to stop 'executions' after Trump appears to defend them

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) has called on Hamas to stop "killing civilians" in Gaza, hours after US President Donald Trump downplayed reports of executions.

Gaza’s Hamas-run internal security forces are reported to have executed several Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel in recent days.

“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend all violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” Cooper said. “This is a historic opportunity for peace. Hamas should adhere to President Trump’s peace plan and disarm without delay.”

His statement came hours after Trump appeared to defend the crackdown, telling reporters that “it didn’t bother me much” and likening those executed to “very bad gangs”.

He added that he had given Hamas “temporary authorisation” to maintain order in Gaza until a new governing body is established under his so-called 20-point peace plan.

“[Hamas] wants to stop the problems, and they’ve been open about it,” Trump said, while threatening that “Israel could return [to Gaza] as soon as I say the word” if the ceasefire collapsed.

Israelis still killing people in Gaza

The reported executions come as Israeli forces continue to hold positions behind the “Yellow Line” following their withdrawal from Gaza’s main cities last week under the terms of the ceasefire.

The United Nations warned that Israel is continuing to kill Palestinians in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect last week.

Medical officials at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis said two Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks on Thursday morning.

One man was struck and killed by an Israeli drone in Bani Suheila, south of Khan Younis, while another died from wounds sustained earlier this week near Gaza City’s College of Science and Technology.

Witnesses in Gaza said that in some areas, security forces have reappeared on the streets, attempting to impose order after months of Israeli bombardment, mass displacement and the collapse of civil institutions.

A senior Hamas source told reporters earlier this week that the movement was still struggling to locate and recover the bodies of captives killed during Israel’s two-year assault because of Israel’s widespread destruction for delays.

“Time and significant effort are needed to collect information about the bodies after the withdrawal of the occupying forces,” the source said.

After two years of Israeli bombardment that killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the enclave’s population.

Under Trump’s plan, the ceasefire includes provisions for the release of prisoners on both sides, a full Israeli withdrawal to an agreed line, and the eventual establishment of an internationally backed administration to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.