Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 20, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 20, 2025
Trump says ceasefire violations by Hamas to be ‘handled toughly but properly’
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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One, October 19, 2025, en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, as he returns from a trip to Florida. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
US President Donald Trump suggests that Hamas leadership was not involved in the deadly attack against IDF troops in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, blaming it instead on “some rebels within.”
Still, he tells reporters aboard Air Force One that “either way, it’s going to be handled properly. It’s going to be handled toughly, but properly.”
Expressing hope that the ceasefire would hold, Trump says the US wants to ensure “that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas.”
“As you know, they’ve been quite rambunctious. They’ve been doing some shooting, and we think maybe the leadership isn’t involved in that,” he reiterates.
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