Trump Suggests Hamas Leadership Unaware of Deadly Gaza Attack on IDF Troops

President Donald Trump suggested that the recent deadly attack on Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops in the southern Gaza Strip may have been executed by "some rebels within" Hamas, implying that the group's leadership might not have been involved. This perspective aligns with Hamas's claim that the incident occurred in an area under Israeli control, where they assert having had no contact with their operatives for months.

"As you know, they've been quite rambunctious. They've been doing some shooting, and we think maybe the leadership isn't involved in that," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace with Hamas, stating, "We want to make sure that it's going to be very peaceful with Hamas. It's going to be handled toughly, but properly."

The attack resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers, Maj. Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sgt. Itay Yavetz, and left three others wounded. The IDF attributed the assault to Hamas, labeling it a "blatant" violation of the ceasefire. In response, the IDF conducted strikes against 20 targets in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run civil defense agency, led to 45 fatalities. These figures have not been independently verified and do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

When questioned about the justification of the Israeli strikes, Trump responded, "I'd have to get back to you on that." He confirmed that the ceasefire remains in effect, stating, "Yeah, it is."

The United States has been actively working to prevent the collapse of the US-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on October 10. US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Trump adviser Jared Kushner have engaged with Israeli officials, urging a proportionate response and restraint. Their efforts come ahead of planned visits to Israel to advance the ceasefire agreement.

Vice President JD Vance, addressing reporters, noted the challenges in ensuring Hamas's disarmament, highlighting the existence of multiple Hamas cells and the lack of security infrastructure to confirm their disarmament. He emphasized the need for involvement from Gulf Arab states to establish law and order on the ground.

The ceasefire and hostage release deal, initiated on October 10, required Hamas to release the remaining 20 living hostages and return the bodies of 28 deceased hostages. While the living hostages were released within the first 72 hours, Hamas has yet to hand over the bodies of 16 deceased hostages, citing difficulties in locating them due to the destruction in Gaza. Israel has accused Hamas of intentionally withholding some of the bodies.

In the next phase of the ceasefire, as outlined in Trump's 20-point plan, Hamas is expected to disarm and transfer governance of Gaza to a technocratic committee overseen by an international transitional body.