US Government Knew Hamas Was Not behind Rafah Blast – Reports

October 20, 2025 News
Reporter Ryan Grim cited a source as saying that the US government knew the causes of the Rafah incident. (Design: Palestine Chronicle)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Footage on social media shows Israeli army bulldozers destroying the remains of damaged homes in Rafah.

The White House and Pentagon knew that the “security incident” in Rafah on Sunday which killed at least two Israeli soldiers was caused by an unexploded ordnance, not Hamas, according to Drop Site News and other reports.

Reporter Ryan Grim cited a “familiar” source as saying that the US government “knew that the incident was caused by an Israeli settler bulldozer running over unexploded ordnance — contradicting Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas had popped up from tunnels.”

Following the incident, the Israeli army launched a wave of artillery and airstrikes across Rafah, claiming to target “several sites linked to armed groups,” killing dozens of Palestinians.

Grim reported that “After Netanyahu said he was blocking all aid from entering Gaza in response, and unleashed a bombing campaign, the administration conveyed to Israel that they know what happened.”

Netanyahu “then announced he would re-open the crossings in a few hours,” he added.

Grim also cited Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi as saying that the incident in Rafah was not a Hamas attack, “but rather a bulldozer operated by a settler company ran over some sort of explosive device or unexploded ordnance.”

He said that by dropping “countless megatons of bombs on Gaza, Israel has rendered it very dangerous terrain for its demolition crews. To accuse Hamas every time their demolition crew blows itself up if a ceasefire violation is the height of irony. The solution to this is to reach a genuine truce and remove the unexplored ordnance systematically.”

‘Unexploded IED’

Journalist and Executive Director of the American Conservative magazine, Curt Mills, also stated on X that senior administration told him that ““Hamas did nothing. Israeli tank hit an unexploded IED that has probably been there for months”.

Footage from the area has shown Israeli excavators destroying the remains of damaged buildings in Rafah, further supporting the claims.

The Israeli army said two soldiers from the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion were killed and three three more injured in the incident that took place in south eastern Rafah, east of the so-called Yellow Line which is under Israeli army control.

Ceasefire Still in Place – Trump

Since the US-backed ceasefire came into effect on October 10, the Israeli army has  committed 80 ceasefire violations, killing at least 97 Palestinians and injuring 230 more, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

Despite this US President Donald Trump insists that the ceasefire remains in place.

“We’re going to have to see what’s happening. We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas,” Trump told reporters when asked about Israel’s latest attacks.

“As you know, they’ve been quite rambunctious,” he stated, claiming that there may be “some rebels” within Hamas involved in ceasefire violations.

“They’ve been doing some shooting. And we think maybe the leadership isn’t involved in that…you know, some rebels within,” he said.

“But either way, it’s going to be handled properly. It’s going to be handled toughly, but properly,” he added.

Hamas Statement

In a statement on Sunday, Hamas affirmed that the movement “has adhered to the implementation of the agreement with full, precise, and faithful commitment.”

“Neither the mediators nor the guarantors have presented any evidence or proof that the movement has violated it or obstructed its implementation. Instead, Hamas has worked with all effort and sincerity to apply the agreement in letter and spirit to achieve stability and lift the suffering of our people in the Gaza Strip,” the statement added.

A Strategic Analysis of Why Gaza Resistance Thwarted Israel’s Military Objectives

“In contrast, the Israeli occupation authorities have deliberately violated the agreement since the first day the ceasefire came into effect and have committed numerous serious crimes and violations against civilians,” it emphasized.

The movement said these violations have been documented and presented to the mediators, accompanied by photographs, lists, and conclusive evidence.

Over 68,000 Killed

Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 68,000 Palestinians, with more than 169,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.

Three Palestinians Killed in Tuffah as Israel Violates Gaza Ceasefire again

In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.

Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.

(PC, Anadolu, Al Mayadeen)

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1 Comment

  1. Dondolf was paid off by the Jewish Nazis, took bribe after bribe. If it was any other nation he’d order a military strike at 3AM and murder them while they slept. He could order a strike on anyone, but he protects the baby-killing Jewish Nazis. We all know why. Money talks. The Jews own Congress. No one will stand up against Dondolf. Why?

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