Israel launches airstrikes into southern Gaza
(NBC, KYMA) - Israel launched airstrikes on southern Gaza early Sunday in the first major test of its ceasefire with Hamas, as the two sides traded accusations of significant breaches of the deal brokered by President Donald Trump.
Israel accused Hamas of attacking its forces as Hamas restated its commitment to the truce, and said it was unaware of any clashes.
President Trump also suggested Hamas' leadership may not be behind the renewed weekend violence as he underscored the ceasefire he brokered is still in effect.
Aid trucks to the Gaza border were seen Monday morning as Israel says deliveries of lifesaving supplies have resumed, and its forces are once again enforcing the ceasefire.
The fragile agreement faced a major test over the weekend when the Israeli military launched a wave of deadly strikes and paused aid transfers after accusing Hamas militants of killing two soldiers.
Trump cited internal divisions within Hamas while underscoring that Hamas must disarm as required in the peace deal he brokered.
"We think maybe the leadership isn't involved in that, you know, some rebels within. But either way, it's going to be, it's going to be handled properly...If we have to, we'll disarm them," the president said.
When asked if it was going to be the U.S. who will disarm Hamas, Trump said, "Whether it's me or the U.S. or it's, you know, a proxy...could be Israel, with our backing. We won't have boots on the ground. There's no reason to."
Vice President JD Vance offered more specifics saying, "That's going to require, as we know, some of these Gulf Arab states to get forces in there, to actually apply some law and order and security keeping on the ground."
Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law who is a key negotiator in the deal, zeroed in on governing Gaza as the region and the world hope peace will hold.
"The success or failure of this will be if Israel and this international mechanism is able to create a viable alternative. If they are successful, Hamas will fail and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future," Kushner expressed.
On Monday, Trump hosts the Australian prime minister at the White House to talk trade and security as the allies look to counter china's growing influence.
