Trump Says Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Remains in Effect After Renewed Gaza Strikes

United States President Donald Trump affirmed on Sunday that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remained intact, even after the Israeli military conducted deadly airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to what it claimed were violations of the truce by Palestinian militants.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that the ceasefire was “still in place,” adding that the Hamas leadership might not have been involved in the alleged breaches.

“Yeah, it is,” Trump said. “We think maybe some rebels within were responsible. But either way, it’s going to be handled properly — handled toughly, but properly.”

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated that it had resumed enforcing the Gaza ceasefire after targeting Hamas positions on Sunday. The IDF accused the group of firing on Israeli troops — marking the most severe escalation since the nine-day-old truce began.

According to Gaza’s Civil Defence Agency, which operates under Hamas authority, at least 45 Palestinians were killed across the enclave in the latest Israeli bombardments. The Israeli military said it was still investigating reports of civilian casualties.

President Trump expressed optimism that the truce — which he helped mediate — would ultimately hold, despite the recent flare-up.

“We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas,” he remarked. “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.”

Vice President JD Vance also addressed the renewed hostilities, describing them as expected setbacks within an otherwise functioning ceasefire process.

“There are going to be fits and starts,” Vance said. “Hamas is going to fire on Israel, and Israel is going to have to respond. But we think it has the best chance for sustainable peace.”

He added that even a viable truce would experience “hills and valleys” and emphasised the importance of continuous monitoring of the situation on the ground.

The ceasefire, which came into effect on 10 October 2025, ended more than two years of devastating warfare that had left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and large parts of Gaza in ruins. The conflict stemmed from Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, which prompted a massive and prolonged Israeli military campaign.

The truce deal outlined plans for hostage and prisoner exchanges, while also introducing a comprehensive roadmap for Gaza’s future governance. However, the agreement has already encountered serious implementation challenges, with renewed violence threatening to derail progress.

Vice President Vance urged Gulf Arab nations — notably Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar — to take a more active role in building a regional security framework to guarantee Hamas’s disarmament, which remains a central requirement of the peace deal.

“The Gulf Arab states, our allies, don’t yet have the security infrastructure in place to confirm that Hamas is disarmed,” Vance stated.

He further revealed that a senior member of the Trump administration would visit Israel in the coming days to monitor compliance with the ceasefire agreement.

“It might be me,” Vance hinted when asked who would undertake the mission.

Despite the surge in hostilities, Washington maintains that the ceasefire — while fragile — remains the most credible pathway towards lasting stability in Gaza and across the region. Trump and Vance both reiterated that the United States will continue to play a central mediating role, ensuring that both Israel and Hamas adhere to the terms of the truce.