Gaza ceasefire restored after Israeli airstrikes kill soldiers
Ceasefire is in effect again in Gaza (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
After a series of clashes along the Gaza Strip border, Israel announced the restoration of a ceasefire, according to Reuters.
Israeli forces stated that the ceasefire in Gaza is now back in effect. Before this, strikes were carried out across the enclave targeting Hamas positions - including field commanders, weapons depots, and tunnels, according to the military. The escalation was triggered by fire on Israeli units, which resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.
Palestinian medics reported 26 fatalities, including a woman and a child. One of the strikes hit a former school in the Nuseirat area, where displaced families were sheltering.
Israel halted humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, calling the incident an open violation of the ceasefire terms. Later, under US pressure, a decision was made to resume humanitarian supplies.
US reaction
US President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire, brokered with his mediation, remains in effect. He emphasized that the American side has no evidence linking Hamas leadership to the recent shelling.
According to Trump, possible provocations may have been carried out by individual militants not connected to the command. He also noted that Washington intends to respond to such incidents firmly but fairly.
US Vice President JD Vance told reporters that around 40 autonomous groups are operating within Hamas, not all of which answer to the central leadership. Some of these groups may adhere to the ceasefire, while others continue provocative actions.
Positions of Israel and Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had ordered the military to respond firmly to violations of the agreements.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s armed wing affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, stressing that it was not involved in the clashes in Rafah. Movement representatives noted that they have had no contact with armed groups in the area since March.
US and Israeli officials confirmed that on Monday, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential advisor Jared Kushner will visit Israel. According to Washington, one of the topics of discussion will be restoring security in Gaza and the potential involvement of Gulf Arab states in stabilizing the region.
Vice President JD Vance is also set to visit Israel on October 20 to discuss next steps for implementing a peace plan aimed at ending hostilities in the Gaza Strip. Media reports indicate that the first phase of the agreement went successfully, but the process remains fragile due to ongoing disagreements, including Israel’s accusations that Hamas has delayed the transfer of bodies of fallen hostages.
Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reported that the August strike in Yemen killed Houthi Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Ghamari. According to media reports, he likely sustained fatal injuries during the Israeli military attack and had previously been injured in a June IDF strike.
