Trump to examine whether Israel violated ceasefire terms by Hamas commander strike
In a developing situation, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that his administration would assess whether Israel breached the ceasefire by striking and killing a Hamas commander in the Gaza Strip.
Israel announced on Saturday that it had killed a senior Hamas official in retaliation for an attack involving an explosive device on an Israeli military unit in Gaza.
Asked by reporters on Monday whether the deadly strike violated the ceasefire, Trump replied: “We’re going to have to see. We’re looking into that.”
Axios, the U.S. news outlet, cited unnamed U.S. officials claiming the White House sent a firm message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The message reportedly emphasized that the killing of a high-ranking Hamas military commander could constitute a breach of the ceasefire agreement brokered during Trump’s administration.
The same report notes growing frustration from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff with Netanyahu’s actions.
Trump, who stated he maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu, noted the two are scheduled to meet on December 29. The discussions are expected to cover compliance with the ceasefire and the second phase of the broader deal, which envisions deploying an international stabilization force to Gaza.
Trump suggested the international force is already in operation and will be expanded to include more contributing countries.
