Reports, citing a number of Trump administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated: “There are concerns within the administration about the possibility of Netanyahu backing out of the agreement.” The New York Times indicated that “Trump now believes that Hamas leaders are willing to continue negotiations, and that the attack on Israeli soldiers on Sunday (the day before yesterday) was carried out by a marginal element within the movement.” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday: “We have made a deal with Hamas, as you know, it will be very good. They will behave well. They will be nice. And if they don’t, we will go and eliminate them if we have to. They will be eliminated. And they know that.” The ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement came into effect on October 10. Israel and Hamas exchanged accusations of violating the truce after renewed fighting in recent days. However, both sides confirmed their commitment to maintaining the truce. Al-Qassam Brigades stated in a statement: “We have no knowledge of any events or clashes occurring in the Rafah area, as these are red zones under occupation control,” confirming that “contact has been cut with the remaining groups there since the return of the war in March of this year.” In the same context, the government media office in the Gaza Strip confirmed on Monday that “Israeli forces continue to violate the decision to stop the war on the Gaza Strip.” U.S. Vice President JD Vance, along with U.S. envoys Kushner and Whitcov, are scheduled to arrive in Israel this week to push for the stabilization of the ceasefire, follow up on the return of Israeli prisoners’ bodies, organize humanitarian aid delivery, and establish an international force to stabilize and work on reconstruction plans.
