After a night of devastating airstrikes that killed at least 104 Palestinians, including 46 children and 20 women, Israel on Wednesday said it would resume compliance with the Gaza ceasefire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strikes targeted Hamas commanders in response to alleged ceasefire violations in Rafah. Hamas, however, denied involvement in the incident and accused Israel of breaking the truce.
Driving the news
The renewed violence began after an exchange of fire in Rafah, where Israeli forces said they were attacked by Hamas militants using anti-tank missiles and sniper fire, killing one Israeli soldier. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “powerful strikes” across Gaza. Within hours, the IDF launched a major bombardment, claiming to have hit 30 Hamas commanders. By morning, Israel declared it had “begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire.”Hamas said it had been preparing to return the body of an Israeli hostage but would now postpone the handover, blaming Israel’s escalation for the delay. The group also urged mediators to pressure Israel to “fully abide by the ceasefire agreement.”
Why it matters
The ceasefire deal — brokered by President Donald Trump — has been hailed as his administration’s biggest diplomatic success. Its fragility, however, has been exposed by these renewed clashes. Any breakdown risks derailing months of negotiations, complicating ongoing hostage returns, and further worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.For Trump, whose team set up a command centre in Israel to oversee the ceasefire, this incident threatens to undermine a signature achievement of his foreign policy.
The big picture
- Hostage disputes: The latest flare-up stems from disagreements over the return of deceased Israeli hostages. Israel accused Hamas of breaching the deal by returning partial remains of one hostage and allegedly staging body recoveries on video.
- Israeli calculations: Netanyahu reportedly sought to coordinate with Trump before authorising new strikes, but events in Rafah appear to have forced his hand.
- US caution: Washington advised Israel not to take “radical measures” that could collapse the truce, though Trump later said Israel “had the right to retaliate.”
- Humanitarian toll: More than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, with 211 deaths recorded during the ceasefire period.
- Uncertain peace: The truce remains technically in place, but mutual mistrust, disputed evidence, and political posturing on both sides mean it could unravel again at any moment.
Bottom line: Israel’s decision to resume the ceasefire after one of the deadliest nights in Gaza underscores how fragile this truce remains. Each exchange of fire risks turning a tenuous peace into another full-blown war — one that neither side, nor the Trump administration, can afford to lose control of.
