Israel launched a series of strikes in Gaza on Sunday and announced it was halting aid into the enclave in response to attacks on its forces, according to the military. This marks the most serious test yet of this month’s US-brokered ceasefire.
Residents in Gaza and local health authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes and tank fire across the enclave killed at least 18 people, including at least one woman.
The Israeli military stated it targeted Hamas locations, including a tunnel, weapons depots, and its militants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared he had instructed the military to respond forcefully to what he termed as Hamas’ violations of the ceasefire. The military noted that militants in the southern Rafah area had launched an anti-tank missile and fired upon its soldiers.
The armed wing of Hamas maintained its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, claiming unawareness of clashes in Rafah and no contact with groups there since March.
An Israeli security official announced that the transfer of aid into Gaza has been suspended until further notice, citing Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Fearing the truce might collapse, some Palestinians rushed to purchase goods from a main market in Nuseirat camp, while families left their homes in Khan Younis further south after nearby airstrikes.
The strikes mirrored Israel’s response to what it perceived as serious violations of its ceasefire with Hamas’ Lebanese ally Hezbollah in late 2024, shortly after the ceasefire took effect. Despite days of mutual accusations of breaches, that ceasefire has largely held.
However, significant obstacles remain towards achieving lasting peace in Gaza, where a ceasefire collapsed in March after nearly two months of relative calm when Israel launched a series of airstrikes.
The new ceasefire commenced on October 11, halting two years of war, but both the Israeli government and Hamas have accused each other of ceasefire violations for days.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the “yellow line” to where Israeli forces had retracted under the ceasefire agreement would be physically marked, and any breach or attempt to cross the line would be met with force.
Hamas outlined what it claimed were a series of Israeli violations that it says resulted in 46 deaths and halted essential supplies from reaching the enclave.
On Saturday, Israel announced that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which was expected to reopen this week, would remain closed, with its reopening contingent on Hamas fulfilling its ceasefire obligations.
Israel contends that Hamas is too slow in handing over the bodies of deceased hostages. Last week, Hamas released all 20 living hostages it held and subsequently handed over 12 of the 28 deceased captives.
The group asserts it has no interest in retaining the bodies of the remaining hostages and requires special equipment to retrieve corpses buried under rubble.
The Rafah crossing has largely been closed since May 2024. The ceasefire agreement also includes increased aid to Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people were identified in August as affected by famine, according to the IPC global hunger monitor.
Previously, the crossing has served as a crucial channel for humanitarian aid to enter the enclave during other ceasefires.
Although aid flow through another crossing had significantly increased since the ceasefire began, prior to Sunday’s decision to halt aid, the United Nations reports much more is needed.
Key issues such as Hamas disarming, the future governance of Gaza, the composition of an international “stabilization force,” and moves towards establishing a Palestinian state remain unresolved.
Gaza-Egypt border crossing will remain closed, says Israel PM Netanyahu.
Israel launches fresh strikes in southern Gaza after ‘ceasefire violations’.
