The Israeli army reported on Sunday (19) that the ceasefire in Gaza had resumed after an attack that killed two of its soldiers and triggered a wave of air strikes that, according to Palestinians, killed 26 people, in the most serious test of the truce.
The President of the USA, . Hamas leadership, he said, may not be involved in the violations.
“We think maybe the leadership is not involved in this,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“In any case… it will be dealt with firmly but appropriately,” he added.
Trump said he did not know whether the Israeli strikes were justified. “I’ll have to get back to you about that,” he said.
Aid to Gaza was expected to resume this Monday (20) after pressure from the US, an Israeli security source said, shortly after Israel announced the interruption of supplies in response to what it called a “flagrant” violation of the truce by Hamas.
The Israeli army said it hit Hamas targets across the enclave, including field commanders, snipers, a tunnel and weapons depots, after militants launched an anti-tank missile and fired at their troops, killing the soldiers.
The attacks killed at least 26 people, including at least one woman and one child, according to local residents and health officials. At least one attack hit a former school housing displaced people in the Nuseirat area, residents said.
“We’ll have to see what’s going on. We want to make sure it’s very peaceful with Hamas,” Trump said.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Israel on Monday, an Israeli official and a US official said.
Hamas’ armed wing said it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement, is not aware of the clashes in Rafah and has not been in contact with local groups since March.
US Vice President JD Vance did not mention the Israeli attacks when speaking to reporters, but said there were about 40 different Hamas cells and no security infrastructure yet in place to confirm their disarmament.
“Some of these cells will probably honor the ceasefire. Many of these cells, as we have seen some evidence today, will not,” he said.
“Before we can really ensure that Hamas is properly disarmed, it will require… some of these Gulf Arab states to send forces there, to actually enforce law and order and security there.”
The Israeli prime minister, , said he had ordered the military to respond with force to what he described as ceasefire violations by Hamas.
