U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza remains in effect, following Israel’s lethal strikes on the region due to alleged truce violations by Hamas.
Israel launched multiple attacks on Hamas sites in southern Gaza on Sunday, after accusing the group of attacking its forces, calling it a “blatant violation” of the truce established nine days prior.
When asked by reporters if the ceasefire was still valid, Trump responded, “Yeah, it is.” The U.S. president, who played a role in brokering the agreement, suggested that any breaches were not orchestrated by Hamas leadership but rather by “some rebels within.”
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“We aim to ensure peace with Hamas,” Trump stated. “It will be handled firmly, but appropriately.”
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that the strikes claimed at least 45 lives across the territory.
Four hospitals in Gaza verified the death toll of 45 to AFP, stating they had received both the deceased and injured.
Israel’s military is investigating the casualty reports.
Media restrictions in Gaza and access challenges prevent AFP from independently verifying the figures and details provided by the civil defense agency or the Israeli military.
The army announced it “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” on Sunday, pledging a “strong response to any violations.”
Hamas denied the accusations, with one official alleging Israel fabricated “pretexts” to restart the conflict.
A security official informed AFP that Israel was halting aid entry into Gaza due to ceasefire breaches.
Israel has repeatedly restricted aid to Gaza during the conflict, worsening dire humanitarian conditions, with the United Nations indicating it led to famine.
‘Blood Returns’
The ceasefire, initiated on October 10, paused over two years of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The agreement outlined plans for hostage and prisoner exchanges and proposed an extensive roadmap for Gaza’s future, yet faced immediate implementation challenges.
Israel reported on Sunday that two of its soldiers were killed in Rafah clashes.
“Earlier today, terrorists used anti-tank missiles and fired on IDF (Israeli army) forces,” in Rafah, the military stated. “The IDF retaliated with airstrikes and artillery targeting the Rafah area.”
Palestinian witnesses informed AFP of clashes in the southern city in an area still under Israeli control.
A 38-year-old witness, who requested anonymity, stated that Hamas was confronting a local gang known as Abu Shabab but was “surprised by the presence of army tanks.”
“The air force conducted two aerial strikes,” he added.
Abdullah Abu Hasanin, 29, from Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza where strikes occurred, remarked: “It’s as if the war has returned anew.
“We hoped the agreement would hold, but the occupation respects nothing—not an agreement, not anything.”
He rushed to the bombing site to assist, adding: “The scene is indescribable. Blood has returned once more.”
‘Security Illusion’
AFP images from Bureij showed Palestinians fleeing the strikes, and the dead and wounded arriving at Deir al-Balah hospital, accompanied by grieving relatives.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas would “pay a heavy price for every shot and every breach of the ceasefire,” adding Israel’s responses would “become increasingly severe.”
A statement from Izzat Al-Rishq, a Hamas political bureau member, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the ceasefire.
Israel, it claimed, “continues to breach the agreement and fabricate flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes.”
Hamas’s armed wing insisted on Sunday it had “no knowledge” of any Rafah clashes.
On Sunday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged Gulf Arab countries to establish a “security infrastructure” to ensure Hamas disarms—a key part of the peace deal.
Under Trump’s 20-point plan, Israeli forces have withdrawn beyond the so-called Yellow Line, maintaining control over about half of Gaza, including its borders but not its main cities.
Bodies Returned
Hamas has released 20 surviving hostages and is in the process of returning the remaining bodies of the deceased.
Israel handed over 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza on Sunday, bringing the total returned to 150, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Israel has tied the reopening of the Rafah crossing—the primary entry point into Gaza—to the recovery of all the deceased.
Hamas stated it requires time and technical assistance to recover the remaining bodies from Gaza’s rubble.
The conflict has resulted in at least 68,159 deaths in Gaza. The figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but indicate that over half of the dead are women and children.
Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel resulted in 1,221 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
