Israel Launches Powerful Strikes on Gaza After Ceasefire Breakdown and Hamas Attack in Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday (28 October 2025) that he had ordered “powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip immediately”, following what Israeli officials described as a Hamas attack on Israeli forces in the southern city of Rafah. The renewed violence shattered the fragile ceasefire that had held for several days, reigniting fears of another prolonged round of conflict in the region.

Ceasefire Collapse and the Trigger Incident

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the latest escalation began when Hamas fighters ambushed an Israeli patrol in Rafah, killing seven Israeli soldiers and injuring at least a dozen others. The IDF said the incident was a “clear and deliberate violation” of the ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar and Egypt, which was aimed at facilitating ongoing hostage and prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas.

Israel immediately blamed Hamas for “breaking the ceasefire first”, claiming that the attack in Rafah left the government with no choice but to respond with force. “We will not tolerate repeated ceasefire violations,” Netanyahu said in a televised address. “Hamas must understand that every attack on our soldiers will be met with overwhelming retaliation.”

Hamas, on the other hand, denied violating the truce intentionally, saying the clash in Rafah occurred after Israeli forces entered a “restricted area” in violation of the terms of the ceasefire. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida accused Israel of “provoking conflict” to avoid further humanitarian obligations, including prisoner and aid agreements.

Hostage and Body Exchanges: Progress and Disputes

Before the ceasefire broke down, both sides had been engaged in a sensitive exchange process involving Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.

So far, according to official tallies from both governments and international mediators, approximately 105 Israeli hostages—mostly women and children—had been released by Hamas, while around 240 Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli jails. However, dozens of hostages remain unaccounted for, and Israel estimates that at least 30 of them may be dead, based on intelligence assessments and forensic evidence.

The issue of dead body exchanges has also caused tension. Israel accused Hamas of handing over several bodies that were not those of Israeli citizens, claiming forensic tests revealed them to be Palestinian casualties mislabeled as hostages. Israeli officials described this act as “a cruel and deliberate deception.”

Hamas rejected the accusation, saying the confusion resulted from the “chaos of war and destruction” caused by Israeli bombardments. “Many bodies are burned, disfigured, and difficult to identify. It is Israel’s relentless attacks that created this situation,” a Hamas statement said.

Israel’s Renewed Strikes and Military Objectives

Following Netanyahu’s order, the IDF launched a wave of air and artillery strikes across multiple areas of Gaza, including Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City. The Israeli military described the strikes as targeting “Hamas command centers, tunnel networks, and weapons depots.”

Palestinian health officials reported dozens of casualties from the strikes, many of them civilians, as Israel’s jets bombarded dense urban zones. The United Nations and several humanitarian agencies have called for restraint, warning that the renewed hostilities could derail ongoing humanitarian aid efforts and plunge Gaza deeper into crisis.

Reactions and International Mediation Efforts

The latest escalation has alarmed international mediators. Qatar, Egypt, and the United States—all of which played key roles in brokering the truce—have urged both sides to return to negotiations and resume the exchange framework.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “deep concern” over the renewed violence, saying, “Every effort must be made to protect civilians and maintain the humanitarian corridor. The breakdown of trust only benefits extremists.”

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government faces growing pressure domestically, as Israeli families of remaining hostages demand faster action to bring their loved ones home. In Gaza, Hamas continues to portray itself as resisting occupation and defending Palestinian sovereignty.

With both Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the breakdown of the ceasefire, prospects for restoring calm appear dim. Analysts warn that if the fighting in Rafah and surrounding areas continues, the humanitarian situation in Gaza could deteriorate rapidly, and diplomatic efforts could stall for months.

For now, Israel insists that the strikes will continue until Hamas “pays the price” for attacking its soldiers, while Hamas vows to retaliate “for every life lost.” The renewed cycle of violence once again underscores the fragile nature of ceasefire agreements in the decades-long conflict—where every truce seems only one spark away from collapse.