Hamas still has not returned remains of Itay Chen, Omer Neutra and 17 others, threatening the fragile ceasefire in Israel.

President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that if Hamas keeps killing people in Gaza, “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” marking a sharp escalation of his rhetoric against the group as he tries to maintain a ceasefire in its conflict with Israel.

Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming - positions that reflect the difficulties facing U.

The Israeli military said it had received coffins believed to contain the remains of two more deceased hostages.

The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is under renewed strain as both sides accuse the other of violating the U.S.-brokered agreement. Israel continues to press for the return of the bodies of hostages still held in Gaza, while Hamas has accused the Israeli military of killing more than 20 civilians since the truce took effect last week.

At least 27 people have been killed in one of the most violent internal confrontations since Israeli troops withdrew.

One body Hamas returned to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal "does not match any of the hostages," the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday.

The current truce has been marked by flashes of violence in Gaza, including a public killing, as Hamas seeks to regain control over the enclave.

After Trump’s threat, Hamas official Mohammed Nazzal defends the recent executions of Palestinians in Gaza as the group seeks to settle scores with opponents.