Trump Questions Hamas Involvement in Gaza Attack, Ceasefire Hangs in Balance
US President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that the Hamas leadership may not have been directly involved in a recent attack that killed two Israeli soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip, attributing the incident to “some rebels within,” as a fragile ceasefire agreement faces renewed strain.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has directly blamed Hamas for the attack in the Rafah area, which resulted in the deaths of Maj. Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sgt. Itay Yavetz, and injuries to three others. However, Trump’s comments appeared to align with Hamas’s claim that the attack occurred in a region where they have not been active for months. “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,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He added, “We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas,” and that any resolution would be “handled toughly, but properly.”
Following the attack, the IDF conducted strikes against 20 targets in Gaza, resulting in at least 45 fatalities according to Hamas-run civil defense agencies, though verification of these figures and differentiation between combatants and civilians remains challenging. The ceasefire, brokered by the US on October 10, had largely halted fighting and increased aid flow into Gaza, but its future is now uncertain. US officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner, have urged Israel to “respond proportionately but show restraint,” according to Axios. This situation underscores the delicate balance required to maintain peace in the region and the potential for escalation.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking yesterday, acknowledged the existence of approximately 40 Hamas cells and the lack of a robust security infrastructure to guarantee disarmament, suggesting that external assistance from Gulf Arab states may be necessary to establish law and order. While Hamas has released the living hostages as part of the agreement, the return of the remains of 16 deceased hostages is still pending. For more information on the ongoing situation, see the State Department’s website. Trump stated he did not know whether the Israeli strikes were justified, saying, “I’d have to get back to you on that,” but affirmed that the truce was still in effect.
US officials are expected to continue diplomatic efforts, with Witkoff and Kushner scheduled to visit Israel today to further advance the ceasefire agreement, and Vice President Vance arriving tomorrow.
