Ceasefire tested as Hamas attack kills Israeli soldiers
The Gaza ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump faced its most serious test over the weekend when Hamas operatives killed two Israeli soldiers in an attack on Sunday, prompting retaliatory Israeli strikes that killed dozens of Palestinians before both sides recommitted to the truce.
Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21, were killed when Hamas fighters emerged from a tunnel in Rafah and fired rocket-propelled grenades at an Israeli engineering vehicle. The attack occurred in an area under Israeli control as part of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10.
Israeli Response and Casualties
Israel responded with airstrikes targeting Hamas positions across Gaza, with Palestinian health officials reporting between 26 and 45 Palestinians killed, including women and children. The Israeli military later announced it was resuming enforcement of the ceasefire “following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations.”
The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of committing 80 ceasefire violations since the truce began, resulting in 97 Palestinian deaths. Israel suspended humanitarian aid deliveries on Sunday but announced they would resume on Monday due to U.S. pressure.
U.S. Diplomatic Efforts
Speaking aboard Air Force One Sunday, Trump insisted the ceasefire remained in effect while suggesting the attacks may have been carried out by “rambunctious” rebel factions rather than Hamas leadership. “We think maybe the leadership isn’t involved in that,” Trump told reporters, echoing Hamas’s own claims about the incident.
Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Monday to prevent the agreement from collapsing. Their visit followed intense U.S. diplomatic pressure, with Washington reportedly requesting Israel “respond proportionately but show restraint.”
“The next 30 days are going to be critical. We are now in charge of what’s going on in Gaza when it comes to the implementation of the deal. We are going to be calling the shots.” (U.S. official, quoted in Axios)
Vice President JD Vance, expected to visit Israel on Tuesday, downplayed the violence as inevitable “fits and starts” in the peace process. “Hamas is going to fire on Israel. Israel is going to have to respond,” he told reporters.
Hamas Denial and Ceasefire Challenges
Hamas denied involvement in the Rafah attack, claiming it had lost contact with operatives in Israeli-controlled areas since fighting resumed in March. The group’s military wing reaffirmed its “full commitment” to the ceasefire while accusing Israel of fabricating pretexts for military action.
The incident highlighted the fragility of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which requires Hamas to disarm and cede governance of Gaza in later phases. Hamas has already faced criticism for being unable to locate the bodies of 16 deceased hostages it committed to return.
In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Kushner stated that the effectiveness of the peace initiative hinges on whether Israel and its international allies can establish “a viable alternative” to Hamas rule. “If they succeed, Hamas will falter, and Gaza will not pose a future threat to Israel,” Kushner noted.
The ceasefire agreement includes provisions for 400 trucks of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza daily and the release of 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The deal marks the most significant breakthrough in two years of conflict that has resulted in over 68,000 Palestinian deaths and 1,139 Israeli deaths since October 2023.
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