Trump: Gaza Ceasefire "Not Threatened," Israel Has Right to Respond

The situation in Gaza has escalated again. According to Al Arabiya, the death toll from new Israeli airstrikes has reached 65. Israel claims to have responded to a "Hamas" provocation. US President Donald Trump has stated that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is being maintained and that "nothing threatens it," despite the tensions of recent days. He said this on the presidential plane in a conversation with journalists, commenting on the airstrikes carried out by Israel on "Hamas" positions. At the same time, Trump emphasized that Israel has the full right to defend itself and to respond to an attack with a counterstrike.

"As I understand it, they killed an Israeli soldier. That's why the Israelis counterattacked. And they have to counterattack. When something like that happens, they have to respond," Trump said.

His words came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered "powerful strikes" on Gaza. The reason, according to the Israeli side, was the violation of the ceasefire by "Hamas" by carrying out an attack on Israeli military personnel. "Hamas," however, has denied its involvement in the incident, reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire agreements. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 26 people have been killed as a result of the Israeli strikes.

The US President also issued a stern warning to "Hamas." "It must be understood that 'Hamas' is a very small part of the peace process in the Middle East, and they must behave themselves," Trump noted, adding: "If they are good, they will be happy, and if not, then they will be destroyed, their lives will be ended."

Referring to the long-term settlement of the conflict, Trump questioned the effectiveness of the "two-state" principle, which has been the cornerstone of US policy for decades. He noted that he could accept solutions such as a "one-state" option if both sides, Israelis and Palestinians, agree to it. "I'm looking at two-state and one-state solutions. I'll accept the option that they both like. If they both agree on one state, I'll be for it," the US President concluded.