US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Gaza ceasefire remains in effect, even after Israel launched a series of deadly air strikes on the enclave in response to what it described as violations by Hamas.
The Israeli military carried out dozens of strikes in southern Gaza, accusing the militant group of targeting its troops in what it called “a blatant violation” of the nine-day-old truce.
When asked by reporters whether the ceasefire was still active, Trump replied, “Yeah, it is.” The US president, who helped broker the agreement, suggested that the alleged attacks may not have been ordered by Hamas leadership, blaming instead “some rebels within.”
“We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas,” Trump said. “It’s going to be handled toughly, but properly.”
According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, at least 45 people were killed in Sunday’s strikes. Four hospitals confirmed the death toll to AFP, while the Israeli army said it was reviewing the reports.
The Israeli military said it had “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” but vowed to “respond firmly to any violation.” Hamas denied breaking the truce, accusing Israel of fabricating “pretexts” to justify renewed attacks.
A senior security official told AFP that Israel has also suspended aid deliveries into Gaza following the reported violations — a move that could worsen the enclave’s already dire humanitarian conditions.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The ceasefire agreement, which began on October 10, halted more than two years of intense warfare between Israel and Hamas. It includes provisions for hostage and prisoner exchanges and outlines a framework for Gaza’s postwar governance.
However, tensions have resurfaced. Israel confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed in clashes in Rafah, saying its forces came under anti-tank fire and responded with air and artillery strikes on the area.
Palestinian witnesses described scenes of renewed fighting and panic. One resident of Al-Bureij camp said, “The situation is as if the war has returned anew. We had hoped the agreement would hold, but the occupation respects nothing.”
AFP images showed civilians fleeing air strikes and wounded victims being rushed to hospitals in Deir al-Balah.
Growing Regional Concerns
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas would “pay a heavy price for every shot and every breach of the ceasefire,” while Hamas political official Izzat Al-Rishq accused Israel of “fabricating pretexts” to resume hostilities. Hamas’s armed wing said it had “no knowledge” of any clashes in Rafah.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance urged Gulf Arab nations to help establish a regional “security infrastructure” to ensure Hamas disarms — a central point of Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
Under the plan, Israeli forces have pulled back beyond the so-called Yellow Line, retaining control of roughly half of Gaza’s territory, including its borders but not its main urban centres.
Hostage and Body Exchanges Continue
As part of the truce terms, Hamas has released 20 hostages and is continuing efforts to recover and return the bodies of others who have died. On Sunday, Israel handed over 15 Palestinian bodies, bringing the total returned to 150, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hamas said it requires more time and technical support to retrieve additional remains buried under rubble.
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has claimed at least 68,159 lives in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry deemed credible by the United Nations.
The 2023 Hamas assault killed 1,221 people in Israel, mostly civilians, based on official Israeli figures.
Comments are closed.