The Israel Defense Forces, with the consent of US President Donald Trump, may return to the streets of Gaza if the Palestinian Hamas movement fails to comply with the conditions of the American leader’s peace plan, Trump himself told CNN.

“Israel will return to those [Gaza] streets as soon as I say the word,” the American leader said during a phone interview when asked what would happen if Hamas refuses to lay down its arms. “If Israel could go in and knock the crap out of them, they’d do that.”

The US president added that, at present, he has to restrain the Israeli authorities and military.