Israel resumes Gaza ceasefire, 26 killed in airstrikes amid renewed tensions

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced on Sunday that a ceasefire in Gaza has resumed following a series of airstrikes that killed 26 people, after two Israeli soldiers died in an attack that triggered the latest surge in violence. The incident marks the most serious test so far of the U.S.-brokered truce this month.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire he facilitated remained in effect, noting that American officials believe Hamas leadership may not have been involved in the violations. “It will be handled toughly, but properly,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that he was unsure whether Israel’s retaliatory strikes were justified. “I’d have to get back to you on that,” he said.

An Israeli security source said humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza were set to resume on Monday following U.S. pressure, after Israel temporarily halted the entry of supplies in response to what it called a “blatant” violation of the ceasefire by Hamas.

According to the Israeli military, its airstrikes targeted Hamas positions across Gaza, including field commanders, gunmen, tunnels, and weapons depots. The attacks followed the launch of an anti-tank missile and gunfire from militants that killed two Israeli soldiers.

Palestinian health authorities and residents reported that at least 26 people, including a woman and a child, were killed in the airstrikes. One of the strikes reportedly hit a former school in Nuseirat that was being used to shelter displaced families.

“We’re going to have to see what’s happening. We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas,” Trump said, adding that some Hamas members “acting independently” could be behind the latest attacks. “They’ve been quite rambunctious, and they’ve been doing some shooting, and we think maybe the leadership isn’t involved,” he said.

Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Israel on Monday, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

Hamas’ armed wing said it remained committed to the ceasefire and denied involvement in any clashes in Rafah, saying it had not been in contact with groups in the area since March.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters, said there were about 40 separate Hamas cells and no verified security structure to ensure complete disarmament. “Some of those cells will probably honor the ceasefire. Many of those cells, as we saw some evidence of today, will not,” he said. Vance added that enforcing the ceasefire would require Gulf Arab states to deploy forces to maintain law and order on the ground.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to respond “forcefully” to what he described as Hamas’ violations of the ceasefire.

Fearing a collapse of the truce, some Palestinians fled their homes in Khan Younis and others rushed to buy supplies in Nuseirat amid renewed airstrikes nearby.

The recent violence echoed Israel’s response to earlier violations of its truce with Hezbollah in late 2024, which has since largely held despite mutual accusations of breaches.

The October 10 ceasefire ended two years of conflict but remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the “yellow line” marking the army’s pullback position under the ceasefire deal would be physically delineated and any breach would “be met with fire.”

Hamas accused Israel of carrying out multiple violations that have killed 46 people and blocked essential supplies from entering Gaza.

Israel said it would keep the Rafah crossing closed until Hamas fulfills its obligations under the ceasefire, citing delays in the handover of deceased hostages’ bodies. Hamas said it has already released all 20 living hostages and turned over 12 of the 28 bodies, adding that special equipment was needed to recover others trapped under rubble.

The Rafah crossing, a key humanitarian gateway, has been largely closed since May 2024. Under the ceasefire agreement, aid shipments to Gaza were to be significantly increased amid worsening famine conditions reported by the IPC global hunger monitor in August.

Although aid through another crossing had improved since the truce began, the United Nations said the current flow remains far below what is needed.

Critical issues such as Hamas’ disarmament, Gaza’s future governance, the composition of an international stabilization force, and steps toward a Palestinian state remain unresolved.