Why Israel Broke the Ceasefire with Targeted Strike in Central Gaza

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it had carried out a precision airstrike in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza, targeting what it described as an Islamic Jihad militant allegedly planning an “imminent attack” on Israeli troops. The strike marks a significant escalation, coming despite a ceasefire agreement that was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, and which had been tenuously holding for the past two weeks.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation was necessary to neutralize an “immediate threat” to its forces operating near the Gaza border. “A short while ago, the IDF conducted a precise strike in the Nuseirat area in the central Gaza Strip targeting a terrorist from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation who planned to carry out an imminent terrorist attack against IDF troops,” the army said in an official statement.

Inside Hamas-run Gaza, the Al-Awda Hospital confirmed that it had received several wounded individuals following the airstrike. “The hospital has received four injured people following the Israeli occupation’s targeting of a civilian car in the Al-Ahli Club area in Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza,” the hospital said. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as smoke rose from the strike site, while ambulances rushed through the narrow camp streets to evacuate the injured.

Why Israel Broke the Ceasefire

Israel’s decision to launch the airstrike reflects the fragility of the ceasefire and its conditional nature. While the truce was meant to halt hostilities between Israel and Hamas, it did not explicitly include Islamic Jihad, a smaller but more hardline faction often accused by Israel of carrying out independent attacks. The IDF maintains that its rules of engagement allow preemptive action when intelligence indicates an imminent threat, even under a truce.

Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that the ceasefire “does not prevent Israel from defending itself.” A senior defense source told local media that “when there is intelligence pointing to a terrorist preparing an attack, Israel will act decisively, ceasefire or not.”

Growing Strains in Gaza

The fragile truce, brokered earlier this month with Washington’s mediation, aimed to prevent another escalation after weeks of rocket fire and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. While Hamas—the de facto ruler of Gaza—has largely abided by the agreement, Islamic Jihad militants have continued to challenge the ceasefire, occasionally launching projectiles or planting roadside explosives near the border fence.

The Nuseirat strike is seen by analysts as a warning signal from Israel to both Hamas and Islamic Jihad: any perceived threat will invite a response, regardless of political circumstances. Some Israeli media outlets have reported that the targeted militant was allegedly involved in preparing an anti-tank missile attack on IDF vehicles operating near the eastern Gaza perimeter.

Political and Diplomatic Implications

The timing of the strike raises questions about the durability of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, especially as Washington has been pushing for longer-term calm in the region to avoid another cycle of violence. The Biden administration (which continued many of the frameworks from the Trump era) has urged restraint, emphasizing that humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire after years of blockade and conflict.

However, Israeli officials argue that maintaining deterrence is equally critical. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Israel “will not tolerate threats against its soldiers or citizens, no matter who violates the ceasefire.”

The Humanitarian Angle

For Gaza’s two million residents, the renewed airstrike serves as a grim reminder of how volatile peace in the enclave remains. Electricity shortages, damaged infrastructure, and overcrowded hospitals continue to strain daily life. Medical sources in Gaza have urged the international community to pressure both sides to uphold ceasefire terms and prevent further civilian casualties.

As of Saturday evening, no fatalities were reported, but tensions remain high. The IDF has said it will “continue operations to remove any immediate threat,” while Hamas warned that “continued aggression will bring consequences.”

The coming days will likely determine whether this incident triggers another spiral of violence or whether both sides can pull back to preserve what remains of the truce.