Hit Back If Soldiers Targeted: Donald Trump Backs Israel As Gaza Strikes Kill 104 in Latest Ceasefire Breach

Not even a month has passed since the US-brokered ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Hamas, to put an end to the deadly two-year long war in Gaza, and there has been yet another ceasefire violation. In the long battle, triggered by deadly Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, over 67,000 Palestinians have been already killed.

In a fresh ceasefire violation, at least 104 Palestinians, including 46 children and 20 women, were killed overnight on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) as Israel carried out a series of heavy airstrikes across Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military said it was targeting “dozens of terror sites and operatives” in retaliation.

According to the Israel, the series of latest strikes come after a violation by Hamas, a claim similar to what it had made after the last ceasefire breach a few days back.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire breach: Why did Israel strike Gaza?

The Israeli Defence Minister accused Hamas of breaching key terms of the deal, including the failure to return the bodies of deceased hostages, and of orchestrating an attack that killed an Israeli soldier in Rafah. Hamas has, however, denied any involvement, saying it remained committed to the truce.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “forceful strikes” after accusing Hamas of crossing a “bright red line” by attacking Israeli troops. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the death of Master Sergeant Yona Efraim Feldbaum, a reservist killed when militants opened fire on an engineering team dismantling tunnels in Rafah.

In response, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Gaza City, Beit Lahia, Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis, flattening homes and schools. BBC cited eyewitnesses who reported seeing “pillars of fire and smoke” rise over densely populated areas.

What did Trump say about the latest escalation?

Speaking aboard Air Force One, US President Donald Trump downplayed fears of renewed conflict, insisting that “nothing is going to jeopardise the ceasefire.” However, he also justified Israel’s military response, “As I understand it, they killed an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back, and they should hit back,” Trump said.

Trump’s remarks came as Washington continues to push forward his 20-point Gaza peace plan, jointly backed by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

Is Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement collapsing?

The fragile truce, in effect since October 10, has already been tested multiple times. Tuesday’s strikes mark the second major violation in less than a month, raising doubts over its durability. Under the deal, Hamas agreed to return 48 living and deceased hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire. While 20 hostages were freed, disputes over the identification of returned remains have heightened tensions.

Israel accused Hamas of staging a “fake recovery” of hostage remains, a claim that both Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have refuted.

Gaza peace plan: What’s next?

Despite mounting casualties, more than 68,600 Palestinians have died since Israel’s military campaign began in 2023, both sides claim to remain committed to the ceasefire. Trump has warned Hamas to return all remaining bodies “quickly”, or face consequences from other mediating nations.

As trust continues to erode, worry remains that the latest strikes could push Gaza back toward full-scale war, threatening to derail months of delicate diplomacy.