The Israeli military stated on Sunday that a ceasefire in Gaza had resumed after an assault that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and triggered a series of airstrikes killing 26 individuals, marking a significant challenge to this month’s U.S.-mediated truce.
Aid deliveries to the region were scheduled to restart on Monday under U.S. pressure, according to an Israeli security source, following Israel’s suspension of supplies in response to what it deemed a clear breach by Hamas of the ceasefire.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 26 people, including a woman and a child, as reported by local residents and health authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were set to visit Israel on Monday, as confirmed by an Israeli official and a U.S. official.
The Israeli military confirmed targeting Hamas sites throughout the enclave, including field commanders, militants, a tunnel, and weapons storage facilities, in retaliation for an anti-tank missile attack and gunfire on Israeli troops in Rafah, resulting in the soldiers’ deaths.
One of the strikes hit a former school used as a shelter for displaced individuals in the Nuseirat area, as per residents.
The Hamas armed wing reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, claiming no knowledge of clashes in Rafah and no contact with groups there since March.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a strong response to what he characterized as Hamas’ violations of the ceasefire.
Initially, aid transfers to Gaza were halted due to what an Israeli security official described as Hamas’ clear breach of the ceasefire. However, following U.S. intervention, another Israeli security official confirmed that aid would resume on Monday.
Amid fears of the ceasefire collapsing, some Palestinians rushed to purchase goods from a major market in Nuseirat, while families evacuated their homes in Khan Younis following nearby airstrikes.
The recent airstrikes were reminiscent of Israel’s reaction to perceived serious violations of its ceasefire with Hamas’ Lebanese ally Hezbollah in late 2024, shortly after its initiation, but that ceasefire has largely held since then.
Efforts towards a lasting peace in Gaza face significant challenges, with a previous ceasefire collapsing in March after a period of relative calm was disrupted by Israeli airstrikes.
The latest ceasefire, effective from October 10, ended two years of conflict, though both the Israeli government and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire in recent days.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to physically demarcate the “yellow line” where Israeli forces had withdrawn under the ceasefire, warning of a strong response to any breaches or attempts to cross the line.
Hamas outlined what it claimed were Israeli violations leading to the deaths of 46 people and blocking essential supplies to Gaza.
Israel announced the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, pending Hamas meeting its ceasefire obligations.
Hamas released all living hostages in its custody last week and has since returned 12 of the 28 deceased captives, citing the need for specialized equipment to recover bodies buried in rubble.
The Rafah crossing, mostly shut since May 2024, is a crucial channel for humanitarian aid to Gaza, with hundreds of thousands facing famine conditions according to the IPC global hunger monitor.
While aid flow via another crossing had increased significantly since the ceasefire started, the United Nations stresses the need for more aid to Gaza.
Crucial issues such as Hamas disarmament, future governance of Gaza, establishment of an international “stabilization force,” and progress towards a Palestinian state are yet to be resolved.