President Donald Trump claimed that the ceasefire in Gaza was still in place despite Israel launching air strikes on Sunday (October 19) after accusing Hamas of having previously violated the peace agreement by carrying out "multiple attacks" since Friday (October 17).

"We wanna make sure that it's going to be very peaceful with Hamas," Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One late Sunday night via NBC News.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed it began "renewed enforcement of the ceasefire" following its reported strikes on Sunday. Trump said U.S. government officials believed Hamas leaders may not have been involved in the alleged violation of the truce in which Israel claimed two soldiers were killed beyond the "yellow line," which refers to the boundary within Gaza where Israeli troops had withdrawn in adherence with the peace agreement.

"I'd have to get back to you on that," Trump said when asked if the Israeli strikes were justified, claiming the situation was "under review" and noted that the situation was "going to be handled toughly, but properly."

An Israeli military official initially confirmed the strikes in a statement to FOX News on Sunday, citing prior alleged attacks by Hamas, before the IDF issued a statement confirming that it was taking actions in Gaza later in the day.

"Earlier today, terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement," the IDF said.

"In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity," the statement continued.

Israel's retaliation strikes targeted the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that he instructed the minister of defense and other security leaders to "act forcefully" when carrying out the retaliation attacks.

Hamas said it had "no knowledge" of any attacks on Israel in its own statement released on Sunday, claiming it was adhering to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

"We affirm our full commitment to implementing everything that has been agreed upon, foremost among which is the ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip. We have no knowledge of any events or clashes taking place in the Rafah area," the group said.

"We have no connection to any events occurring in those areas, nor can we communicate with any of our fighters there if any of them remain alive," the statement added.

The reported attacks came days after Hamas said it intends to maintain security control in Gaza and defended public executions against Palestinians that followed a peace deal with Israel that ended the two sides' yearslong war. Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal claimed that "exceptional measures" needed to be taken in Gaza in a statement to Reuters addressing criticism for the public killings that took place last Monday (October 13), while also refusing to commit to the group disarming, a key demand by Trump in the deal brokered with Israel.

Stan Bell