Washington/Jerusalem/Gaza City — U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza remains intact, despite a wave of Israeli airstrikes that killed dozens of Palestinians and marked the most severe test of the U.S.-brokered truce since it took effect on October 10. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, Trump emphasized Washington's commitment to preserving calm, while downplaying the role of Hamas leadership in recent violations.
"We're going to have to see what's happening. We want to make sure that it's going to be very peaceful with Hamas," Trump said. He described recent Hamas actions as potentially the work of "rambunctious" rogue elements rather than top officials, adding, "As you know, they've been quite rambunctious. They've been doing some shooting. And we think maybe the leadership isn't involved in that... you know, some rebels within."
"But either way, it's going to be handled properly. It's going to be handled toughly, but properly," Trump continued, reaffirming his administration's resolve to enforce the deal. Asked directly if the ceasefire was still in place, he replied unequivocally: "Yes."
The president's remarks came hours after Israeli forces unleashed over 80 airstrikes and artillery barrages across Gaza, in response to what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described as a "blatant violation" of the truce by Hamas militants. The attacks, concentrated in southern and central Gaza, killed at least 44 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry and hospital officials. Two Israeli soldiers—Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21—were killed earlier in the day during clashes in Rafah, southern Gaza, marking the first IDF fatalities since the ceasefire began.
The Gaza Government Media Office, affiliated with Hamas, reported that at least 97 Palestinians have been killed and 230 injured by Israeli forces since the truce's implementation, accusing Israel of committing "80 documented violations" in breach of international humanitarian law. "These strikes are a flagrant aggression that endangers the entire agreement," the office stated in a release, urging international mediators to intervene.
Roots of the Ceasefire: A Hard-Won Truce
The October 10 ceasefire emerged from intense U.S.-led negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where Trump gathered leaders from over 50 nations to sign the "Trump Peace Agreement"—a multi-phase plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year Gaza war that has claimed over 68,000 Palestinian lives and displaced millions. Phase One, which activated the truce, included an immediate halt to hostilities, partial Israeli withdrawal to a "yellow line" buffer zone along Gaza's borders, the release of all 20 surviving Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and an exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners plus 1,718 administrative detainees. Hamas also committed to handing over the remains of 28 deceased hostages, though only 12 have been returned so far, citing the need for heavy machinery to excavate rubble-strewn sites.
Trump hailed the deal during a speech to Israel's Knesset on October 13 as the "historic dawn of a new Middle East," crediting his administration's "art of the deal" approach for securing the hostages' freedom and halting the bombardment that had leveled much of Gaza. Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, pledged billions for reconstruction, contingent on sustained peace and Hamas disarmament in later phases. Yet, from the outset, the agreement faced skepticism. Analysts noted its vagueness on Phase Two—encompassing full Israeli withdrawal, Gaza's demilitarization, and transitional governance—potentially allowing either side to exploit ambiguities.
Prior truces, including a brief one in November 2023 and another in January 2025, collapsed amid similar accusations. The January deal ended abruptly in March when Israel launched preemptive strikes, killing over 100 Palestinians and reigniting the conflict. This history underscores the current tensions, with both sides pointing fingers while recommitting to the framework.
Sunday's Escalation: A Timeline of Violence
The day's violence erupted around dawn in Rafah, where IDF troops were reportedly "dismantling terrorist infrastructure" near the yellow line. Hamas's Qassam Brigades allegedly fired rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rounds, killing the two soldiers and wounding three others, according to the IDF. Israel responded within hours, striking "dozens of Hamas targets," including weapons caches, tunnel entrances, and command posts in Rafah, Khan Younis, Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos: In Bureij, an airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families killed four, including two children, per Al-Awda Hospital medics. Near Al-Ahli soccer club in Nuseirat, two more died in a strike on a makeshift coffeehouse, while six perished in Al-Zawaida from drone fire. Gaza's Civil Defence agency reported rescuing survivors from collapsed buildings amid ongoing gunfire and tank shelling.
Hamas denied involvement in the Rafah clash, stating its forces had "no knowledge" of incidents there, as contact with remnants in the area was severed since March. Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq accused Israel of "fabricating pretexts to justify crimes," reaffirming the group's commitment to the truce. The militant group has been embroiled in internal skirmishes, executing rivals in public squares to consolidate control post-ceasefire, which may have fueled perceptions of instability.
In retaliation for the alleged breach, Israel temporarily halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, a move a security official described as necessary to prevent "exploitation by terrorists." Only a trickle of trucks—far below the 600 daily mandated by the deal—had entered prior, exacerbating famine risks in the enclave, where confirmed starvation has claimed dozens of lives. Aid resumption was slated for Monday following U.S. pressure, with the IDF announcing it had "begun renewed enforcement of the ceasefire."
Broader Implications: A Region on Edge
Sunday's events echo a pattern of tit-for-tat breaches since October 10. On October 14, Israeli troops killed five Palestinians approaching the yellow line in northern Gaza, which Hamas labeled a "flagrant violation." By October 18, Gaza authorities tallied 47 Israeli infractions, including a bus attack in Zeitoun that wiped out 11 family members en route home. Israel countered that Hamas delayed returning hostage remains, breaching Phase One terms.
Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are en route to Israel for urgent talks, aiming to salvage Phase Two negotiations on disarmament and reconstruction. The president has warned that Israel could resume operations "as soon as I say the word" if Hamas fails to comply, while vowing U.S. support for enforcement without direct involvement. In a Knesset address, he envisioned expanding the Abraham Accords to include Iran, though European diplomats privately caution that rushed disarmament risks collapse.
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions poured in, amplifying global divides. Anadolu Agency highlighted Trump's assurance amid the 97 deaths, while users accused the U.S. of betraying the deal, claiming Hamas would defend against further strikes. BBC World Service noted the strikes' toll in its Global News Pod, underscoring the truce's fragility.
International Backlash and Humanitarian Fallout
Global responses were swift and critical. The UN Human Rights Office condemned the strikes as "disproportionate," urging an independent probe into civilian deaths. Amnesty International echoed calls for accountability, citing potential war crimes in the school and market hits. Qatar, a key mediator, coordinated with Egypt for de-escalation, while Turkish relief teams assisted in hostage body recovery.
Aid agencies warned of catastrophe: With only 12 World Food Programme trucks entering Sunday, famine looms for 2.3 million Gazans. "This is managed displacement under truce guise," said Ramy Abdu of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, alleging Israel's aid curbs aim to force exodus.
In Israel, far-right figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded "maximum force" resumption, pressuring Netanyahu's coalition. Public grief swelled with funerals for the fallen soldiers, while hostage families decried delays in remains returns.
As night fell over Gaza, sporadic explosions persisted, but both sides signaled restraint. Hamas affirmed truce adherence; the IDF vowed "firm responses" to future breaches. Trump's optimism persists, but with 97 lives lost in 10 days, the "new Middle East" vision hangs by a thread. Mediators race against time, knowing one misstep could unravel two years of devastation into renewed inferno.
