US President Donald Trump has said the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in effect, despite both sides accusing each other of breaching the fragile deal following a new wave of violence in Gaza.
Hours after Israel’s military said it had launched strikes against Hamas targets across the enclave, Trump told reporters the truce was “still in place.”
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strikes began in southern Gaza on Sunday after “terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire” toward its troops in Rafah, killing two soldiers. The military later announced it would resume enforcement of the ceasefire.
Hamas, however, denied any involvement in the attack, saying it was “unaware” of clashes in the area under Israeli control. The group said it remained “committed” to the ceasefire but accused Israel of “violations” that could “push the situation toward a total collapse.”
By evening, Israel said it had hit several Hamas targets across Gaza. Hospital sources reported that at least 44 people were killed in the strikes.
The escalation marks a major test for the truce agreement, which has faced repeated breakdowns since its announcement. International journalists, including those from the BBC, are currently barred from entering Gaza to report independently on the situation.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are expected to travel to Israel today amid growing concern that American diplomatic pressure may be required to keep the ceasefire from unravelling completely.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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