U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza remains intact despite Israeli airstrikes that killed dozens, as Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the fragile truce.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said Israel had the right to respond but insisted the truce was holding.
“As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back — and they should hit back,” Trump said. “Nothing is going to jeopardise the ceasefire. Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave.”
The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it would abide by a ceasefire accord in Gaza, as health officials in the enclave said airstrikes had killed 104 people, with both Israel and Hamas trading blame for violations of the deal.
Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza late on Tuesday, saying it acted after an attack by Palestinian militants killed one soldier, in the latest challenge to an already fragile ceasefire.
The Gaza health ministry said that 46 children and 20 women were among the 104 people killed in Israeli airstrikes since Tuesday.
Reuters couldn't immediately verify the numbers, but Reuters video showed several bodies of women and children inside a hospital during funeral processions.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it would continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and would respond firmly to "any violation".
The Israeli military said it had resumed enforcing the ceasefire after Tuesday’s strikes, describing them as a response to a “blatant violation” by Hamas.
An official said militants had attacked Israeli forces stationed within the “yellow line,” a deployment zone defined under the terms of the ceasefire.
The truce, in place since 10 October, halted two years of war sparked by Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023. Both sides, however, have accused each other of breaching the agreement.
Dozens killed as Gaza hit overnight
Gazan health officials reported at least 70 deaths from the latest wave of Israeli strikes, including five people in a house in the Bureij refugee camp, four in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood, and five in a car in Khan Younis.
Witnesses described continuous bombardments overnight as explosions lit up Gaza’s skies. The Israeli military confirmed the death of one of its soldiers but gave no further details on casualties among Hamas fighters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had ordered “powerful attacks” following the soldier’s killing, while the military vowed to continue upholding the ceasefire and respond “firmly to any violation.”
Hamas, however, denied responsibility for the alleged sniper attack on Israeli troops in Rafah, insisting it remained committed to the ceasefire. The group accused Israel of escalating tensions to justify renewed bombardment.
Hostage return and mistrust cloud the deal
The ceasefire agreement includes the exchange of prisoners and hostages, as well as the return of remains of those killed during the conflict. Under the accord, Hamas agreed to release all living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees, while Israel suspended its military offensive.
However, Israel has accused Hamas of staging a false recovery operation, claiming the group planted human remains at an excavation site before alerting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Israeli military released a 14-minute video showing three men burying a white bag at a site later presented as a hostage recovery location. The ICRC said it was unaware of any deception prior to its arrival, calling the act “unacceptable.”
“It is unacceptable that a fake recovery was staged, when so much depends on this agreement being upheld,” the organisation said in a statement.
Hamas has not commented on the allegation, while Reuters said it could not independently verify Israel’s account.
Trump defends Israel, calls ceasefire stable
Trump, whose administration brokered the ceasefire earlier this month, said he continued to monitor the situation closely. Despite the escalation, he argued that the broader peace framework remained strong.
“If they (Hamas) are good, they are going to be happy; if not, their lives will be terminated,” he said, referring to the militant group.
The president’s remarks underscore Washington’s firm support for Israel amid growing questions over whether the truce can withstand repeated breaches.
As Gaza reels from new strikes and mounting casualties, both sides insist they are committed to the deal — but the fragile calm appears to hang by a thread.
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