Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday described an attack on Israeli soldiers in Gaza and the strikes in response by Israel as "very disappointing and frustrating for us."
He told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that Hamas terrorists have been clear that they are willing to give up governance in Gaza, and that Qatar is trying to push them to acknowledge they need to disarm.
These remarks from the Qatari prime minister follow comments made earlier in the week by US President Donald Trump. He stated, "Nothing is going to jeopardize" the ceasefire in Gaza during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump emphasized that Hamas is a "very small part of peace in the Middle East" and stated, "They have to behave. If they [Hamas] are good, they are going to be happy, and if they are not good, they are going to be terminated; their lives will be terminated."
US Vice President JD Vance commented on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Gaza remains intact, despite ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza City and mutual accusations of violations between Israel and Hamas. "The ceasefire is holding. That doesn't mean there aren't going to be little skirmishes here and there," Vance told reporters.
On Tuesday, the IDF expanded its strikes across the Gaza Strip after Hamas fired on soldiers in southern Gaza, according to reports from Palestinian sources. The IDF announced on Wednesday morning that one soldier had been killed by Hamas sniper fire, which triggered the strikes that followed.
Trump defended the IDF's response, stating, "They killed an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back, and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back."
Israel strikes back
The Israeli military targeted the area surrounding Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, according to the hospital's director-general. Israel is also contemplating further incursions into areas of the Gaza Strip from which it had previously withdrawn. An Israeli source mentioned that they would "nibble away" at additional territory currently under Hamas control.
These military actions follow multiple ceasefire violations by Hamas, including the firing of an anti-tank missile and assaults on IDF troops in Rafah. An Israeli official stated that the response to Hamas's violations would be "much more significant" than in previous instances.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hamas would "pay a heavy price" for its attacks on IDF soldiers and for violating the agreement regarding the return of hostage remains.
On Monday night, Hamas returned additional remains of former hostage Ofir Tzarfati, marking the third occasion these remains have been discovered, returned, and buried.
In response, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum decried yet another violation by Hamas. They stated, "Hamas knows the location of all the hostages and continues to act with contempt, deceiving mediators and the international community while desecrating the dignity of our loved ones."
Reuters contributed to this report.