Riyadh: US Vice President Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, downplayed the current Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip, stressing that “the ceasefire in Gaza will hold.” In a statement to reporters, he said, “There will be small skirmishes here and there. We know that Hamas attacked an Israeli soldier, and we expect the Israelis to respond.”
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Hamas confirmed Tuesday evening that it had nothing to do with the shooting of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, stressing its commitment to the ceasefire agreement. Previously, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the military leadership had received instructions to launch heavy strikes on Gaza immediately, after completing security consultations.
The Israeli attack included shelling the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital Street with several missiles, and targeting the hospital’s backyard. This development comes at a time when Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement reached through US President Donald Trump’s plan are increasing.