US President Trump states Gaza ceasefire remains intact and Israel has the right to hit back after reported Hamas attack on Israeli soldier.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE/JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza was not at risk despite renewed violence.
Local authorities reported that 26 people had been killed in Israeli strikes as both sides exchanged accusations over who violated the truce.
Israeli planes launched strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of breaking the ceasefire agreement.
Gazan health authorities confirmed the strikes killed at least 26 people across multiple locations in the Gaza Strip.
“As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back,” he added.
Trump emphasised that nothing would jeopardise the ceasefire but warned Hamas must behave.
The attacks by Israeli planes continued into early Wednesday across various parts of Gaza according to witnesses.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for immediate powerful attacks.
An Israeli military official stated Hamas had violated the ceasefire by carrying out an attack against Israeli forces.
“This is yet another blatant violation of the ceasefire,” the official said.
The US-backed ceasefire agreement had taken effect on October 10 halting two years of war triggered by Hamas-led attacks.
Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms throughout the three-week-old deal.
“If they (Hamas) are good, they are going to be happy and if they are not good, they are going to be terminated, their lives will be terminated,” Trump said.
Trump acknowledged uncertainty about the Israeli soldier’s fate but supported Israel’s right to retaliate.
Earlier on Tuesday Israeli media reported an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in Rafah.
Hamas denied responsibility for any attack on Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city.
The group also issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Tuesday’s strikes followed what Israel called a targeted strike on Saturday against someone planning to attack Israeli troops.
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