A Middle East expert calls the US accusation ‘incomprehensible,’ especially coming from a nation that has supported Israel’s devastating actions in Gaza.
The U.S. State Department has alleged that Hamas is preparing an assault targeting civilians in Gaza, which would constitute a serious breach of the israel-next-middle-east-target/” title=”Could Turkiye Be ……s Next Focus in the Middle East? | Conflict News”>ceasefire agreement. The department urged mediators to pressure the Palestinian faction to honor its commitments under the peace framework endorsed by the United States.
In a statement issued late Saturday, officials claimed to have received “reliable intelligence pointing to an imminent ceasefire breach by Hamas against Gaza’s population.”
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“If Hamas moves forward with this planned attack, steps will be taken to safeguard Gaza’s residents and uphold the ceasefire’s terms,” the statement added.
Details regarding the nature of the alleged attack were not disclosed, and Hamas has not yet issued a response to these claims.
The United States has alerted the guarantor countries of the Gaza ceasefire agreement about credible intelligence indicating a forthcoming violation by Hamas targeting Gaza’s civilians.
This intended assault on Palestinian non-combatants would represent a serious and direct breach…
– Department of State (@StateDept) October 18, 2025
Mouin Rabbani, a scholar specializing in Palestine and Middle Eastern affairs, described the U.S. warning as bewildering.
“This appears to be an effort to ignite internal strife within Gaza, aiming to accomplish what Israel has not succeeded in doing so far,” Rabbani remarked.
The Dutch-Palestinian analyst highlighted that Israel has already sought to destabilize Gaza by collaborating with armed factions and local militias acting as proxies in the conflict.
“The notion that the United States is defending those whose genocidal campaign it has steadfastly supported for two years is simply unfathomable,” Rabbani added.
Since the ceasefire took effect last week, Hamas and Israel have exchanged accusations over violations, putting the fragile agreement at risk.
Gershon Baskin, an analyst with American-Israeli background, told Al Jazeera that breaches have been a consistent feature of all past Israeli-Palestinian accords.
“For this ceasefire to hold, the U.S. must maintain constant, even multiple daily, engagement to ensure compliance on the ground,” he emphasized.
The Gaza Government Media Office reported nearly 50 Israeli ceasefire violations since the truce began, resulting in 38 Palestinian fatalities and 143 injuries.
It condemned Israel’s actions as “blatant and unequivocal breaches of the ceasefire and international humanitarian law.”
The office detailed that Israeli forces targeted civilians directly with gunfire and airstrikes, underscoring Israel’s persistent aggressive stance despite the ceasefire declaration.
Additionally, Israel faces criticism for obstructing the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a key provision of the ceasefire agreement.
Reopening Rafah is crucial to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and allow Palestinians to travel abroad.
In response to mounting frustration over Israel’s blockade of Rafah, Rawhi Fattouh, president of the Palestinian National Council-the legislative arm of the Palestine Liberation Organization-called on the international community to deploy peacekeeping forces in Gaza to protect civilians and enforce the ceasefire terms.
