Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to launch immediate and “powerful” strikes in the Gaza Strip after accusing Hamas of a “clear violation” of the U.S.–brokered truce that began on 10 October. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the directive came “following security consultations” and instructs the military echelon “to immediately carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli officials say one trigger for the escalation was an incident near Rafah in southern Gaza, where Israeli troops reportedly came under fire, an action Israel claims broke the ceasefire terms. Another flashpoint involved the handover of remains by Hamas: the returned body fragments were identified by Israeli forensic authorities as belonging to a hostage whose body had already been repatriated two years prior, which Israel decried as a “staged” violation.
Shortly after the order was issued, Israeli aircraft struck Gaza City, targeting residential zones and locations near the Shifa Hospital. At least two Palestinians were killed and four wounded, according to Gaza health officials and independent reporters.
Hamas’ armed wing, in response, announced that it would postpone the hand-over of another hostage’s remains, citing Israeli violations of the truce as the reason for the delay. The move further highlights how hostage-related issues and cease-fire commitments remain highly contentious. The cease-fire, which had been ushered in with U.S. mediation as a key diplomatic achievement, is now under serious strain. Analysts say the current escalation marks one of the most serious tests yet of the truce’s durability.
Humanitarian concerns are growing as the renewed strikes threaten to undo progress on aid access and reconstruction in Gaza, where more than 68,000 Palestinians have already been reported dead since the war began. In Tel Aviv, the Israeli government emphasized that nothing is off the table should further violations occur, leaving open the possibility of a broader military escalation.
