REPORT: Hamas violated ceasefire with attack against IDF

I am sure that Donald Trump is not sleeping so easily these days, especially after reports broke that Hamas had violated the ceasefire that was to be his legacy achievement. Reports broke over the weekend that Hamas had conducted an attack in across the “yellow line” that marked the withdrawal point of Israel.

According to reports, two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were killed in the attack, and it has Israel ready to trash the deal and go back to war.

Troubling signs

Not long after the deal was signed, reports broke that Hamas was executing Gazans in the street.

Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin explained, "Hamas is killing them because they can. Hamas is a criminal organization that has ruled the Palestinian people in Gaza for almost 20 years. This is not a democratic, liberal regime."

He also stated that there were armed groups inside Gaza who were operating on behalf of Israel.

He stated, "Israel has empowered, with weapons and money, gangs of Palestinians who were involved in mostly illegal activities in the past -- selling drugs, illegal smuggling -- and they've empowered them as an alternative to Hamas. This is not sustainable."

Violation

Israel was already upset that not all of the dead hostages had been returned, to the point that the White House was ready to offer a bounty to Gazans to help locate the bodies.

Then a report broke that an attack took place against the IDF, which released a statement: "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.”

It continued, “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.”

Hamas denied the report, stating, "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. 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.”

Troops were killed

As the day progressed, it was confirmed that two IDF soldiers were killed and one was wounded.

Professor Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute, observed, "Today’s violation of the agreement was severe. I assume that this is not going to be the last one. Israel complies [with President Trump’s] plan and wants to continue with the realization of the plan.

"This agreement was violated since the first day by Hamas. And it continued with their behavior with regard to the hostages, the dead hostages. All the manipulation that they are doing plays on the nerves of Israeli society.”

Trump has now threatened Hamas with “eradication” if they don’t abide by the deal. For Trump’s sake, I hope this peace deal stays in place, but to be perfectly honest, I would not be upset for a second if Israel was given the go-ahead to destroy Hamas.