Trump Bela Netanyahu Orders Strikes Against Gaza, Considers Not Violating Ceasefire

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump stressed the ceasefire in Gaza was not violated even though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a devastating attack on the Palestinian territories.

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday, October 29, killed 70 people according to Gaza's health authorities.

"As far as I know, they shot dead an Israeli soldier," Trump told reporters on the Air Force One plane.

"So Israel retaliated and they should retaliate. When that happens, they should retaliate," he continued.

The Israeli military confirmed the death of soldiers from the Hamas militant attack on Wednesday.

"Nothing will harm" the ceasefire, Trump said.

"You have to understand that Hamas is just a small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to act," Trump stressed.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack, following a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office saying he had ordered a "catastrophic attack".

An Israeli military official said Hamas had violated the ceasefire by launching an attack on Israeli troops stationed within the so-called 'yellow lines', a line of placement agreed upon in the ceasefire.

Turkey on Tuesday night said the Israeli attack that re-occurred in Gaza was a violation of the ceasefire.

The Israeli government called Turkey should be encouraged by world powers to fully adhere to the deal and end "genociden policy".

Israel firmly denies its actions in Gaza constitute genocide and says the measure is justified as self-defense.

Israel is fighting for the case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague which accuses it of committing genocide.

The US-backed ceasefire agreement came into force on October 10, halting a two-year war sparked by a deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.