Trump blames ceasefire violations on Hamas ‘rebels,’ insists truce still holding

President Donald Trump downplays spate of Hamas attacks on IDF forces in Gaza, claims ceasefire is still in place despite the violations.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

The ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror organization is still in effect, President Donald Trump said late Sunday night, downplaying a spate of attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip earlier in the day.

On Sunday morning, three separate violations of the Gaza ceasefire were reported.

In the most significant incident, Hamas terrorists launched anti-tank missiles at an Israeli-armored personnel carrier in the Rafah area, killing two soldiers – Yaniv Kula and Itay Yavetz – and wounding three others. A large gun battle broke out after the missiles were fired.

Hamas snipers also opened fire on an IDF position in the Gaza Strip while a group of Hamas terrorists attempted to infiltrate into IDF-held territory in northern Gaza.

The IDF responded to the attacks with a series of airstrikes on Hamas positions across the Gaza Strip, killing 20, according to Palestinian media reports.

In one strike, a group of six terrorists from Hamas’ elite Nukhba Force were eliminated.

However, hours later, the IDF announced that it would continue to adhere to the ceasefire deal.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed Sunday that it did not order and had no foreknowledge of the attacks, saying that its central command had lost contact with terror cells in Rafah.

Speaking with reporters on board Air Force One, the president appeared to accept Hamas’ claim, blaming the deadly Rafah attack on “rebels” within Hamas.

When asked to comment on Israeli reprisal strikes, Trump said Hamas had been “rambunctious,” but he emphasized that the ceasefire was holding.

“Well, we’re going to have to see what is happening. We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas and, as you know, they’ve been quite rambunctious,” he said.

“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.”

After a reporter asked the president whether the truce was still in effect, Trump said, “Yeah, it is. It is.”

Vice President JD Vance is slated to arrive in Israel on Tuesday amid efforts by the Trump administration to push both sides to implement the second stage of the ceasefire deal, including the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and continued withdrawal of the IDF.