Gaza Ceasefire Tested After Hamas Fires on Israeli Forces and IDF Retaliates With Dozens of Airstrikes

President Trump’s victory lap through Jerusalem and Sharm el-Sheik may have been premature if events on the ground in Israel Sunday are any indication. Israel conducted airstrikes on Hamas targets at Gaza after terrorists fired on Israeli Defense Forces units working in the strip, killing two soldiers and wounding three others.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with defense officials to discuss further responses after Hamas units fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF bulldozer and an engineering vehicle dismantling Hamas infrastructure in the southern Gaza area of Rafah. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three more wounded.Israel’s military responded with air strikes against Hamas’s strongholds, including remaining tunnel shafts and military structures. Israel’s military hit 104 targets with 127 munitions, killing 15 terrorists, including a Hamas elite force company commander. “These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly,” the IDF wrote on X as Mr. Netanyahu directed strong action be taken against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.Late Sunday, the IDF said in a statement that it had begun adhering to the terms of the ceasefire once again at the directive of “the political echelon” following what it described as “a series of significant strikes.” It warned, however, that it “, the IDF has begun renewed enforcement of the ceasefire following its violation by the terrorist organization Hamas. The IDF will continue to enforce the ceasefire agreement and “will respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.”Israel’s N12 said political leaders agreed with a military recommendation to halt aid shipments to Gaza until further notice — a decision that was subsequently walked back following pressure from the Trump administration. The aid crossing will now reopen Monday morning local time.Part I of a 20-point peace plan approved by Mr. Trump began last week with the return of 20 living Israeli hostages and the promise of the return of 28 dead hostages. The joyous reunions of live hostages with their families began last Monday. Since then, only 12 bodies have been returned and identified so far. Footage of the handoffs followed by a signing ceremony in Egypt that included guarantor nations — the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey — left many with the impression that Hamas would lay down its weapons to allow a new caretaker authority to be established as part of a move toward Palestinian self-governance. Hamas, however, violated the early requirements to disarm, instead starting clan wars among tribal groups in Gaza, and executing more than 50 political opponents it called traitors to the cause, including two children.The terror group denied Sunday on its Telegram channel that it fired on IDF troops, though it said it is not in communication with its outposts in Rafah. It accused the IDF of violating the ceasefire 47 times and killing 38 people.On Saturday evening, the State Department reported that it had informed the guarantor nations that the attacks by Hamas against Palestinian civilians would “constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts.”“Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,” the statement reads.An American official told Axios on Sunday that American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with the Israeli negotiator, Ron Dermer, about next steps in the peace process following Israel’s notification to the Trump administration of its pending strikes against Hamas targets.The American official reportedly said the U.S. urged Israel to “respond proportionately but show restraint” and focus on isolating Hamas and helping identify a Palestinian alternative to run Gaza. Messrs. Witkoff and Kushner and Vice President JD Vance are expected to travel to Israel this week to reduce the tension and try to stitch together the next steps in a peace deal.Israel remains in control of 53 percent of Gaza, in anticipation that it would have to return. On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu said the two-year conflict has been named the “War of Redemption,” a title that will accompany medals of valor and citations to commanders and soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces.

Gaza Ceasefire Tested After Hamas Fires on Israeli Forces and IDF Retaliates With Dozens of Airstrikes

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