Israeli strikes in Gaza shatter fragile truce as Netanyahu vows forceful response to Hamas attacks

Israeli forces launched air and artillery strikes into southern Gaza on Sunday, threatening to disrupt a fragile US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 11.

The latest attacks, which Israel said targeted militants who opened fire on its soldiers in Rafah, underlined the deep mistrust between the two sides just nine days after a ceasefire came into effect.

The Israeli military statement stated that the attacks destroyed tunnels and military buildings used by Hamas fighters.

“In response to Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement this morning, the Israeli Armed Forces struck dozens of Hamas terrorist targets in Gaza,” the IDF said.

“The IDF has begun to re-enforce the ceasefire in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The IDF will continue to support the ceasefire agreement and will respond harshly to any violations,” a second social media statement said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will strongly retaliate against Hamas’ attacks on its soldiers.

In its statement, Hamas’s armed wing stated that it remained committed to the ceasefire agreement in all of Gaza, and that it was not aware of the clashes in Rafah and that it had not been in contact with the groups there since March.

Al-Qassam Brigades said, “We confirm our full commitment to the implementation of all agreements, especially the ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip.”

Palestinians in Gaza reported explosions and gunfire in Rafah, south of the strip; heavy gunfire from Israeli tanks in the eastern town of Abassan, near Khan Younis, also in southern Gaza; air strike on the central town of Zawayda; Explosions in the central town of Deir Al-Balah killed at least five people, according to medics at Al-Aqsa Hospital.

Eyewitnesses in Khan Younis heard that a wave of airstrikes had been launched against Rafah early on Sunday afternoon.

Israeli strikes have killed at least eight people in the last 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday. Hamas has launched multiple attacks against Israeli forces in Gaza, including a rocket-propelled grenade attack and a sniper attack on Israeli soldiers, an Israeli military official said early Sunday.

“Both incidents occurred in an Israeli-controlled area… This is a bold violation of the ceasefire,” the official said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the “yellow line” from which Israeli forces retreated under the ceasefire agreement would be physically marked and any violation of the ceasefire or attempt to cross the line would be met with fire.

Senior Hamas official Izzat Al Risheq said on Sunday that the Palestinian militant group remains committed to a ceasefire that it has repeatedly accused Israel of violating.

The government’s media office in Gaza said on Saturday that Israel committed 47 violations after the ceasefire agreement, leaving 38 people dead and 143 injured.

While the Israeli Government and Hamas have been accusing each other of violating the ceasefire for days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Rafah border gate between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice.

Netanyahu’s statement came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt announced that the Rafah crossing, the main gateway for Gazans to leave and enter the area, would reopen for entry into Gaza on Monday.

Welfare has been largely closed since May 2024.

The ceasefire agreement also includes increasing aid to the region, where hundreds of thousands of people were determined to be affected by famine in August, according to the IPC global hunger monitor.

Israel and Hamas have a dispute over the return of the bodies of dead hostages.

Israel demanded that Hamas fulfill its obligations to hand over the remaining bodies of the 28 hostages.

Hamas returned all 20 living hostages and 12 of the dead, but said the process required effort and special equipment to recover bodies buried under rubble.

Formidable obstacles remain to Mr. Trump’s plan to end the war.

Fundamental questions regarding the disarmament of Hamas, the governance of Gaza, the creation of an international “stabilization force” and steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state remain unresolved.

When requested for comment, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem referred the investigation to the State Department.

Renewed fighting in Gaza and concerns about a ceasefire caused major Tel Aviv stock indexes to fall almost two percent on Sunday.

via Reuters