“Some rebels” violated the ceasefire in Gaza

US President Donald Trump said yesterday that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas still exists, after Israel launched dozens of raids on Hamas targets, accusing it of attacking its forces.

“Yes, it is,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One when asked if the ceasefire was still in place, noting that the Hamas leadership was not involved in any violations and blaming “some rebels within the movement.”

“But in any case, the matter will be dealt with as it should,” he added. “It will be dealt with firmly, but as it should.”

The Israeli army had previously said that it had begun resuming the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza after it was “violated” by the Hamas movement. Indicating the end of the strikes on the Strip.

This comes after the army said that Hamas fighters targeted army engineering vehicles in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel responded by launching air strikes and artillery shelling, while the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said that it was not aware of any events taking place in Rafah.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said earlier yesterday that the army had received orders to “act forcefully” against targets belonging to the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, warning that the movement “will pay a heavy price” for every shooting or violation of the ceasefire.

Katz added: “(Hamas) will learn the hard way that the IDF is determined to protect its soldiers and prevent any harm that befalls them.”

He continued, saying that if Hamas does not understand this message, “the intensity of the reactions will increase.”

According to a military source, more than 20 targets have been bombed so far since the attack on Rafah yesterday morning, according to the Times of Israel newspaper.

The Israeli army had previously accused Hamas of seriously violating the ceasefire in Gaza by carrying out numerous attacks on Israeli forces, according to a senior Israeli military official.