Members of the Hamas militant group search underground for the bodies of Israeli hostages amid destroyed buildings in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.

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Amira El-Fekki‎

By Amira El-Fekki‎

Middle East News Reporter

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Hamas has claimed the Trump administration's "biased stance" toward Israel means the ceasefire will continue to be violated.

In a statement on Wednesday, the group said: "The American administration’s biased stance toward the occupation constitutes an actual partnership in the shedding of our children’s and women’s blood, and a direct encouragement for the continuation of aggression."

The Israeli army launched a barrage of attacks on Gaza on Tuesday, as tensions with Hamas over the return of the remaining hostages' bodies grew.

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Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment.

Why It Matters

Renewed tensions come just over two weeks after President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough Gaza ceasefire deal. Under the deal, Hamas released all remaining living Israeli hostages and handed over several bodies of deceased hostages. The United States and Israel say Hamas must complete delivery of the remaining bodies, a process the Hamas says involves digging through rubble and tunnels, aided by Egyptian equipment.

Members of the Hamas militant group search for the bodies of Israeli hostages amid destroyed buildings in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 19, 2025.

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What To Know

Hamas warned that it will not allow Israel to impose "new realities through violence." The Gaza Health Ministry, which does not separately count civilians and militants, said that 104 people have been killed since Tuesday, including women and children.

The Israel Defense Forces said that along with the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), it carried out "precise strikes against dozens of Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip." The IDF added that among the killed targets were militants who took part in Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023.

Israel accused Hamas of killing an Israeli soldier in southern Gaza, which Hamas denied. Israel notified the U.S. before launching the strikes on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, citing U.S. officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was guilty of a "clear violation" of the ceasefire agreement when it handed over body parts on Monday that Israel said were the partial remains of a hostage recovered earlier in the war. Israel also accused Hamas of staging the discovery of these remains on Monday.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, while on a visit to Israel last week, said the process of repatriating deceased hostages will take time.

What People Are Saying

Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday translated from Arabic: "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) affirms that the occupation bears full responsibility for this dangerous escalation, its field and political repercussions, and its attempt to thwart the Trump plan and the ceasefire agreement."

Israel Defense Forces said in a Wednesday statement: "Overnight, in response to Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement yesterday (Tuesday), the IDF and ISA, guided by IDF intelligence, carried out precise strikes against dozens of Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip."

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, according to Reuters: "As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back. Nothing is going to jeopardize the ceasefire. You have to understand Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave."

What Happens Next

Both Israel and Hamas say they want to continue to uphold the ceasefire.

Update 10/29/25, 10:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

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