United States Vice President JD Vance said the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was “holding” despite the fighting. Vance’s remarks came after Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza over an alleged attack on its troops. “The truce is ongoing. That doesn’t mean there won’t be little skirmishes every now and then,” Vance said.
Speaking of “skirmishes,” Vance said an IDF soldier was attacked, so the United States expects retaliation from the Israelis.
“We know that Hamas or someone else in Gaza has attacked an (Israeli military) soldier. We expect the Israelis to respond, but I think the president’s peace will hold regardless,” he said.
The US-brokered ceasefire agreement came into effect on October 10, ending two years of war that was triggered by deadly Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 that devastated the narrow coastal strip. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.
Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency said Israel launched airstrikes despite an active ceasefire after authorities claimed Hamas violated the ceasefire by attacking its soldiers.
Following the attacks, Gaza’s Civil Defense Authority said an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in the south of the territory killed five people.
“At least five (were killed) in an Israeli attack on a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip,” agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “heavy strikes” on Gaza after claiming Hamas had violated the ceasefire. Defense Minister Israel Katz blamed Hamas for the attack on his troops in Gaza.
“The terrorist organization Hamas will pay a high price for the attack on IDF soldiers in Gaza and for violating the agreement to return the bodies of the hostages,” Israel Katz said in a statement.
“Today’s attack by Hamas on IDF soldiers in Gaza is a clear red line crossing to which the IDF will respond with great force.”
However, Hamas denied the attack on Israeli troops in Gaza as it also reaffirmed its commitment to an agreement with Israel to stop the war and exchange prisoners and hostages.
In a statement, the group said: “Hamas declares that it has no connection with the shooting incident in Rafah and reaffirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.
