Netanyahu Orders “Powerful Strikes” in Gaza After Ceasefire Breach"

Tensions flared once again in Gaza as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered the military to launch “powerful strikes” across the enclave. The decision followed renewed clashes and a breakdown in parts of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that had largely held since October 10. According to Israeli officials, Hamas fighters opened fire on Israeli forces operating in southern Gaza earlier in the day. In response, Israeli warplanes and artillery launched a new wave of strikes on multiple targets across the territory. Witnesses reported explosions near Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest operational medical facility, in the north. Another airstrike in the southern city of Rafah killed at least five people, Gaza’s civil defence agency told AFP. The agency added that at least 30 people were killed in attacks across several parts of Gaza during the night. Israel Warns of “Heavy Price” Following the attacks, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Hamas would pay a “heavy price” for targeting Israeli troops. “Israel will respond with great force,” Katz said, signaling a potential collapse of the fragile truce. The latest escalation came just days after Hamas handed over body parts of a hostage, which Israeli authorities identified as remains of a captive previously recovered two years ago. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the move as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire deal, which required Hamas to immediately return the remains of all deceased hostages. Israel says the remains of 13 hostages are still missing. In protest against Israel’s renewed strikes, Hamas announced it would delay the handover of additional remains, further straining the truce. Ceasefire on the Brink The ceasefire, which began on October 10, was designed to bring a gradual end to months of conflict and to pave the way for talks on Gaza’s future governance. Despite two earlier flare-ups, the truce had mostly held — until now. Earlier this month, Israel accused Hamas of killing two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border attack on October 19. Israel responded with airstrikes that, according to Gaza health officials, killed 40 Palestinians. Over the weekend, Israel also targeted suspected Islamic Jihad militants, wounding several people. The renewed violence has now halted progress on the next phase of the ceasefire deal. The next steps were expected to include the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force, and the formation of a new governing authority for Gaza. Humanitarian Concerns Rise Strikes near civilian infrastructure, particularly hospitals, have sparked alarm among international aid agencies. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies worsening after every escalation. Diplomats from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar — who had brokered the ceasefire — are urging both sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue. However, analysts warn that with tensions running high, the truce could collapse completely unless urgent mediation succeeds. For now, civilians in Gaza face another round of uncertainty, trapped between faltering diplomacy and the threat of renewed war.

NEWS