WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Hamas "we will have no choice but to go in and kill them" if internal bloodshed persists in Gaza.

The grim warning from Trump came after he previously downplayed the internal violence in the territory since a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect last week in the two-year war.

Trump later clarified he won't send U.S. troops into Gaza after launching the threat against Hamas.

"It's not going to be us," Trump said in an exchange with reporters. "We won't have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they'll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices."

The president did not specify if he was speaking of Israel, but action by Israeli forces could risk violating terms of the

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