Israel vows to uphold Gaza ceasefire “with force” after accusing Hamas of breaking terms
Israel has vowed to “renew enforcement of the ceasefire” with Hamas after launching a wave of airstrikes in southern Gaza on Sunday, accusing the militant group of violating the fragile truce.
In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it carried out “a series of significant strikes” in response to what it described as ceasefire breaches, including the firing of an anti-tank missile at Israeli troops in Rafah, a zone designated under Israeli control as part of the current ceasefire deal.
“Following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire, in line with the terms of the agreement,” the statement read. “The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it.”
The development threatens to unravel the already-fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, which came into force earlier this year after months of devastating conflict across the Gaza Strip. Both sides have repeatedly accused the other of violating its terms.
Hamas, however, denied involvement in Sunday’s clashes. The group’s military wing issued a statement rejecting claims that its fighters fired on Israeli troops.
“We reaffirm our full commitment to implementing everything agreed upon, foremost among them the ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “We have no knowledge of any incidents or clashes taking place in the Rafah area, which is a red zone under Israeli occupation control. Contact has been cut with our groups there since the war resumed in March of this year.”
The militant group added that it “had no connection to any events occurring in this area” and that communication with its fighters there was impossible “if any remain alive.”
The Israeli airstrikes came just hours after the IDF claimed that “terrorists” had fired a missile at a patrol operating near Rafah. There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side, but witnesses in southern Gaza described hearing explosions and seeing smoke rising from multiple areas overnight.
The escalation followed days of mounting tension along the border, where humanitarian access remains limited and reconstruction efforts have stalled. International observers have warned that the ceasefire — brokered with the backing of Egypt, Qatar and the United States — remains deeply fragile, with local skirmishes and rocket launches threatening to tip the region back into open warfare.
Sunday’s developments also coincided with renewed pressure on Hamas from Israel to return the bodies of hostages taken during the October 7 attacks last year.
On Saturday, Hamas handed over the bodies of two hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The men were identified by Israel as Ronen Engel, an Israeli national, and Sontaya Akrasi, a Thai citizen. Both were confirmed to have died during the October 7 assault, when Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back into Gaza.
Israel has since insisted that the remains of all deceased hostages be returned as part of the ceasefire’s humanitarian conditions. Officials said on Sunday that pressure would continue “through every diplomatic and operational channel” until all missing persons are accounted for.
The renewed airstrikes and accusations have cast fresh doubt on the durability of the current truce, which has been punctuated by sporadic violence since its inception. Analysts say both sides are attempting to assert leverage while maintaining the appearance of compliance.
Regional mediators are expected to step up contact in the coming days in an effort to de-escalate the situation. However, with mistrust deepening and hostilities never far from the surface, hopes of a lasting peace remain uncertain.