The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came under renewed strain on Sunday—just nine days after it took effect—as both sides traded accusations of violating the truce amid fresh violence in southern Gaza.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reported launching airstrikes and artillery fire in the Rafah region after its troops came under attack earlier in the day. “In response to the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement earlier today, the IDF has begun a series of strikes against Hamas terror targets in the southern Gaza Strip,” the military said in a statement.
Israel Halts Humanitarian Aid
In a related development, Israel has suspended the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing security concerns. A senior Israeli security official told AFP that the decision was made following what Israel described as Hamas’s “blatant violation” of the truce.
“The transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip has been halted until further notice,” the official confirmed.
Casualties Reported Amid Renewed Fighting
Gaza’s Civil Defence Agency, operating under Hamas authority, reported that at least 13 people were killed in the latest Israeli strikes. The IDF said it was reviewing reports of civilian casualties.
The escalation comes just over a week after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire—led by President Donald Trump—brought a temporary halt to over two years of hostilities. The truce included provisions for the return of hostages, recovery of bodies, and a limited Israeli withdrawal from specific areas of Gaza.
However, tensions have remained volatile, particularly in Rafah, where new clashes broke out on Sunday. One local resident told AFP that Hamas fighters were initially engaged in a confrontation with a local gang before Israeli tanks entered the area. “The air force conducted two strikes from above,” the witness said.
Mutual Accusations of Truce Violations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and ordered a robust military response. “Terrorist targets will be hit hard,” his office said. Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Hamas would “pay a heavy price” for each breach of the agreement.
Hamas officials, however, denied the accusations. In a statement, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the group’s political bureau, reaffirmed Hamas’s commitment to the ceasefire, accusing Israel of “repeatedly violating the agreement and fabricating flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes.”
Hamas’s armed wing also insisted that it had adhered to the truce and claimed to have “no knowledge” of any clashes in Rafah.
Hostage Negotiations and Border Tensions
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas has thus far released 20 surviving hostages and handed over the remains of several others. On Sunday, Israel confirmed it had received the bodies of Ronen Engel, an Israeli photojournalist, and Thai farmworker Sonthaya Oakkharasri, both killed during the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Israel also returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number repatriated to 150.
Negotiations have slowed in recent days, particularly concerning the recovery of additional bodies. The Rafah crossing with Egypt remains closed, effectively halting humanitarian shipments. Netanyahu’s office stated that the crossing would reopen only if Hamas “fully respects the ceasefire and completes the return of all hostages and remains.”
On Saturday, Hamas warned that the continued closure of Rafah would lead to “significant delays in the retrieval and transfer of remains,” further complicating the already fragile truce.
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