“In accordance with the directives of the political authorities, after a series of significant attacks in response to violations by Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces began re-enforcing the ceasefire in accordance with the provisions of the agreement,” the army said in an evening statement.
It was emphasized that the military will continue to respect the ceasefire and respond firmly to its violations.
The Israeli army said it was attacked on Sunday morning near the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip by “terrorists” and returned fire. Two soldiers were killed and three were wounded in the shelling.
Later government and military statements attributed the attack to Hamas, accusing it of violating the ceasefire in force since October 10. Hamas denies these allegations, does not claim responsibility for the attack and says it is observing the ceasefire.
Israel has resumed airstrikes in the Gaza Strip
Israel's armed forces have carried out at least two waves of airstrikes, declaring they were targeting Hamas targets.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Civil Defense reported that 45 people were killed in Israeli strikes.
After initial reports that Israel would suspend aid indefinitely, Reuters reported from sources that Humanitarian transports will resume on Monday, due to pressure from the US.
These were the most serious clashes since the US-sponsored truce.
The article continues below the video
The Axios website reported, according to a US government source, that the US was pressuring Israel to respond to the shelling “proportionate but restrained.” The website added that the American administration is concerned about the future of the peace agreement, which is perceived as a great success for President Donald Trump.
So the U.S. government plans to increase control over the implementation of the deal to make sure it doesn't fall apart, Axios added. According to the media, US Vice President JD Vance, as well as Trump's advisers: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are to go to Israel in the coming days.considered the main architects of the agreement.
— Israel does not want to break the ceasefire (…) but there is a simple rule against violations [rozejmu] respond and this will continue as long as Hamas continues to violate the agreement, one Israeli official told Channel 12.
A fragile truce between Israel and Hamas
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli troops withdrew to the so-called yellow line and currently control about half of the Gaza Strip. The last 20 living Hamas hostages were also exchanged for nearly 2,000. Palestinian prisoners.
Tensions arise over the issue of Hamas returning the bodies of those killed and kidnapped. The group has so far released the bodies of 12 of the 28 hostages. Israeli authorities accuse Hamas of deliberately delaying this process. Hamas says it wants to return the bodies but is having technical difficulties recovering them.
Negotiations on the second part of the agreement have not yet started. It assumes, among others: disarmament of Hamas, which is also one of Israel's main demands. Representatives of the Palestinian group have repeatedly declared that they will not lay down their weapons.
