Israel says ceasefire with Hamas back on despite major Gaza airstrikes

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Israel said Wednesday that the ceasefire with Hamas is back on after the IDF launched a wave of airstrikes Tuesday following an alleged Hamas attack in southern Gaza.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying the Gaza ceasefire will continue following airstrikes conducted after an alleged Hamas attack on IDF soldiers with sniper fire and anti-tank missiles outside Rafah on Tuesday. The Hamas-operated Gaza Health Ministry claims the airstrikes killed more than 100 Palestinians, including civilians, Reuters reports, but those claims have not been independently verified at this time.

“As part of the strikes, the IDF and ISA struck 30 terrorists holding command positions within the terrorist organizations operating in Gaza,” the IDF said on X. “The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it.”

Later, Hamas issued a statement calling on mediators to pressure Israel to uphold its end of the ceasefire and to “restrain its escalation against civilians in Gaza,” according to Axios. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consulted military leaders to carry out strikes in Gaza prior to the Tuesday night attacks.

Israel has accused Hamas of “dragging its feet” in returning dead hostages. Although Hamas has returned all living hostages, only about 15 bodies have so far been returned to Israel.

Vice President JD Vance downplayed the significance of the strikes Tuesday, saying the ceasefire was still in a good place even with “skirmishes.”

“We know that Hamas or somebody else within Gaza attacked an [Israeli] soldier,” Vance told reporters. “We expect the Israelis are going to respond, but I think the president’s peace is going to hold despite that.”

President Donald Trump echoed that message when speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday. “As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier,” he said, according to ABC News. “So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back.”

“Nothing’s going to jeopardize [the ceasefire],” Trump said. “You have to understand, Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave.”

The State Department deferred to Trump’s comments to reporters on Air Force One when asked for comment. The Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.