The Israeli military announced on Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza had been reinstated following an incident that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and led to a series of airstrikes causing 26 casualties, marking a significant challenge to the current U.S.-brokered truce this month.
Aid deliveries to Gaza were scheduled to resume on Monday under U.S. pressure, as confirmed by an Israeli security source. This decision came shortly after Israel suspended aid shipments in response to what it deemed a clear violation of the truce by Hamas.
According to reports from local residents and health authorities, the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals, including a woman and a child.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were expected to visit Israel on Monday, as confirmed by Israeli and U.S. officials.
The Israeli military reported targeting Hamas positions throughout the region, including field commanders, militants, tunnels, and weapon storage facilities, in response to an attack by militants in Rafah that took the lives of the soldiers.
Residents mentioned that one of the strikes hit a former school where displaced individuals had sought refuge in the Nuseirat area.
Hamas’ military wing affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire agreement, denied any involvement in the clashes in Rafah, and stated no contact had been made with other groups since March.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized a forceful response to what he described as Hamas’ breaches of the ceasefire.
Initially, aid transfers to Gaza were suspended due to what an Israeli security official labeled as a blatant violation by Hamas. However, aid operations were set to resume on Monday after intervention from the United States.
In fear of the ceasefire breaking down, some Palestinians rushed to stock up on supplies from a major market in Nuseirat, while families evacuated their homes in Khan Younis following nearby airstrikes.
The recent airstrikes mirrored Israel’s response to what it perceived as significant violations of a previous ceasefire with Hamas’ ally Hezbollah in late 2024.
Challenges persist on the path to a lasting peace in Gaza, where a previous ceasefire collapsed in March after a period of relative calm.
The current ceasefire, which commenced on October 10, marked the end of two years of conflict but has been marred by accusations of violations by both Israel and Hamas.
Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that Israeli forces had marked a “yellow line” delineating the ceasefire border, vowing to respond to any breaches with force.
Hamas listed a series of alleged violations by Israel, resulting in casualties and hindering essential supplies from reaching Gaza.
Israel’s decision to keep the Rafah border crossing closed was linked to Hamas’ compliance with the ceasefire terms, especially in regards to the repatriation of deceased hostages.
The Rafah crossing, mostly shut since May 2024, is a critical channel for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, with hundreds of thousands facing famine conditions.
Despite the recent increase in aid flow through an alternate crossing, the United Nations stressed the urgent need for more assistance.
Key unresolved issues include Hamas disarmament, Gaza’s future governance, the establishment of an international stabilization force, and progress towards a Palestinian state.
