Trump insists Gaza ceasefire remains intact despite deadly 'Israeli' strikes

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed concerns that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza was collapsing, even as reports emerged that 26 Palestinians were killed in 'Israeli' airstrikes overnight.

The escalation came after 'Israel' accused Hamas of violating the three-week-old truce by attacking 'Israeli' forces, prompting retaliatory strikes across the Gaza Strip. Local health officials said 'Israeli' planes targeted multiple locations, including homes and vehicles, killing at least 26 people. The dead included five people inside a house in the Bureij refugee camp, four in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, and five in a car in Khan Younis.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump appeared to defend 'Israel’s' response. “As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier,” he said. “So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back.” He added that “nothing is going to jeopardize” the ceasefire, emphasizing that “Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave.”

Witnesses reported that 'Israeli' strikes continued into early Wednesday. The 'Israeli' military declined to comment directly on the operations, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had ordered “powerful attacks” in response to what 'Israel' called a breach of the truce.

The ceasefire, mediated by Washington, took effect on October 10, halting two years of war. Since then, both sides have accused each other of violating the fragile agreement.

“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, adding that 'Israel' had acted in response to what was reportedly sniper fire that killed one of its soldiers. “And it was retribution for that, and I think they have a right to do that.”