The Israeli military declared on Sunday that a ceasefire in Gaza had resumed after an assault resulting in the deaths of two soldiers, triggering a series of airstrikes that claimed the lives of 26 individuals, marking a significant challenge to the U.S.-brokered truce for this month.
Aid deliveries to the enclave were scheduled to restart on Monday under U.S. pressure, as confirmed by an Israeli security source, shortly after Israel suspended supplies in response to what it deemed a “blatant” breach by Hamas of the ceasefire agreement.
According to local residents and health authorities, the Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 26 people, including a woman and a child.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were anticipated to visit Israel on Monday, as indicated by an Israeli official and a U.S. official.
The Israeli military reported targeting Hamas sites throughout the enclave, including field commanders, armed individuals, a tunnel, and weapons depots, in response to militants launching an anti-tank missile and attacking Israeli troops in Rafah, leading to the soldiers’ deaths.
Residents mentioned that at least one strike hit a former school where displaced individuals were sheltering in the Nuseirat area.
Hamas’ armed wing affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, stating unawareness of clashes in Rafah and no contact with groups there since March.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to respond robustly to what he described as violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.
Initially, aid transfer into Gaza had been stopped due to what an Israeli security official labeled as Hamas’ clear violation of the ceasefire. However, following U.S. pressure, another Israeli security official announced that aid would recommence on Monday.
Amid fears of the ceasefire collapsing, some Palestinians hurried to purchase goods from a primary market in Nuseirat, while families evacuated their homes in Khan Younis further south following nearby airstrikes.
The airstrikes mirrored Israel’s reaction to what it perceived as severe violations of its ceasefire with Hamas’ Lebanese ally Hezbollah in late 2024, shortly after its implementation, although that ceasefire has largely held since.
Despite the new ceasefire commencing on Oct. 10, ending two years of conflict, both the Israeli government and Hamas have accused each other of ceasefire breaches over the past days.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the “yellow line” marking the limit to which Israeli forces had withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement would be visibly designated, with any breach or attempt to cross met with military response.
Hamas outlined what it claimed were a series of Israeli violations resulting in 46 deaths and impeding essential supplies from reaching Gaza.
Israel announced that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, initially set to reopen, would remain closed pending Hamas’ fulfillment of ceasefire commitments.
Israel criticized Hamas for delays in handing over deceased hostages, noting the return of 20 living hostages and 12 deceased captives among the demands.
The Rafah crossing, largely inactive since May 2024, is a critical channel for humanitarian aid into Gaza, where hundreds of thousands were identified in August as facing famine.
While aid flow through another crossing had increased post-ceasefire, the United Nations stressed the need for more significant aid efforts.
Crucial issues remain unresolved, including Hamas disarmament, Gaza’s future governance, an international “stabilization force,” and progress towards a Palestinian state.