Trump: Hamas isn’t involved in violating the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the truce remains in place

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the truce in Gaza was still holding after Israel launched airstrikes on Hamas targets, accusing them of attacking its forces.

This was the most violent escalation since the truce came into effect nine days ago, and then announced a halt to its strikes and a re-implementation of the ceasefire.

Civil Defense in Gaza said that Israeli airstrikes left 45 dead, while the Israeli army reported the deaths of two of its soldiers in clashes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israel and Hamas traded accusations on Sunday of responsibility for breaching the ceasefire agreement, following renewed violence in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, after nine days of relative calm.

“Yes, its,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One when asked if the ceasefire was still holding, noting that Hamas’s leadership wasn’t involved in any violations and blaming some rebels within Hamas.

Trump expressed hope that the ceasefire he helped broker would hold, saying, “We want to make sure things go very peacefully with Hamas”.

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday instructed security forces to take forceful action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire.

But Hamas responded that it was committed to the ceasefire and was unaware of the clashes in Rafah.

For his part, US Vice President J. D. Vance called on the Gulf states to establish a security infrastructure to ensure Hamas’s disarmament, a key part of the peace agreement.

He said, “The Gulf states, our allies, don’t yet have the security infrastructure necessary to ensure Hamas’s disarmament.”

Footage distributed by Agence France-Presse showed Palestinians fleeing for cover during the Israeli bombardment, as smoke billowed from buildings destroyed by the raid.

On Sunday evening, the Israeli army said it would reimpose the ceasefire.

A statement read, “Based on directives from the political echelon and following a series of significant strikes, the IDF has begun re-imposing the ceasefire agreement after it was violated by Hamas”.

He added, “The army will continue to implement the ceasefire agreement and will respond with extreme force to any violation”.

Netanyahu had previously ordered strong action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, while his Defense Minister, Israel Katz, threatened Hamas with a heavy price for every bullet fired and every ceasefire violation.

“Earlier, terrorists fired anti-tank missiles and opened fire at IDF forces operating to destroy terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” the Israeli army said in a statement on Sunday.

According to an Israeli official, Hamas members opened fire on Israeli forces in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, and Palestinian militants approached Israeli-controlled areas in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip and were killed in a strike.

The Israeli army revealed footage of what it said were Palestinian fighters approaching its forces in the area.

Meanwhile, the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, confirmed on Sunday that Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, denying any knowledge of any clashes in Rafah.

Meanwhile, Hamas fighters were targeting a group affiliated with Yasser Abu Shabab (an opponent of Hamas who is supported by Israel) in southeast Rafah, and were surprised by the presence of Israeli army tanks.

This escalation comes as US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in the region next week to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

A ceasefire in Gaza took effect on October 10, under pressure from US President Donald Trump, after a devastating war that lasted more than two years following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Under the first phase of the agreement, Hamas handed over 20 living hostages on the 13th of this month in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.

On Sunday, the Qassam Brigades announced that it had found the body of one of the Israeli hostages and intended to hand him over on Sunday if the conditions on the ground are right.

If handed over, it will be the 13th body received by Hamas since the ceasefire took effect.

Israel is demanding the return of the remains of all hostages before allowing the opening of the Rafah crossing, which is essential for the entry of aid into the stricken Strip.

In contrast, Hamas says the continued closure of the crossing is hindering the entry of equipment needed to search for the remains of the hostages among the rubble.

Following the ceasefire announcement, Israel allowed aid to enter primarily through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

However, international organizations consider these amounts of aid to be too small and are demanding that all crossings be opened.

Israeli military operations over the past two years have destroyed large parts of the besieged Gaza Strip, in response to a Hamas attack on October 7.