Trump blames “some rebels within” Hamas for breaching ceasefire in Gaza

On October 20, US President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was still in effect after the Israeli military carried out deadly strikes on Gaza over apparent truce violations by the Palestinian armed group.

"Yeah, it is," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked if the ceasefire was still in place, Asharq Al-Awsat reports. 

He also suggested that Hamas leadership was not involved in any alleged breaches and instead blamed "some rebels within."

"But either way, it's going to be handled properly. It's going to be handled toughly, but properly," Trump added.

Israel said it had resumed enforcing the Gaza ceasefire after it struck Hamas positions Sunday, having accused the group of targeting its troops in the most serious violence since the nine-day-old truce began.

Gaza's civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority, said at least 45 people had been killed across the territory in Israeli strikes. Israel's military said it was looking into the reports of casualties.

Trump expressed hope that the ceasefire he helped broker would hold.

"We want to make sure that it's going to be very peaceful with Hamas," he said.

"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."

The truce in the Palestinian territory, which took effect on October 10, halted more than two years of devastating war that has seen Israel kill tens of thousands and reduce much of Gaza to rubble, after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack.

The deal established the outline for hostage and prisoner exchanges, and was proposed alongside an ambitious roadmap for Gaza's future. But it has quickly faced challenges to its implementation.

By Khagan Isayev