More than a week after the ceasefire came into effect, Israel appears to have resumed the fighting in Gaza. On Sunday afternoon, the Israeli army dropped twenty bombs on the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis in five minutes. Israel has also halted the supply of emergency aid, which had also been agreed, “until further notice.”
Israel said the bombings were in response to the firing of anti-tank missiles at army excavators. Hamas says it had nothing to do with that shooting. Both sides accuse each other of breaking the truce. According to a Hamas spokesman, Israel comes up with “weak pretexts” to justify its “crimes.”
An Israeli government spokesman said the ceasefire was still in effect, but soldiers “may act to defend themselves.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed Defense Minister Israel Katz to “take strong action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.” Hamas also says it remains committed to the ceasefire.
Extremist minister’s call: ‘war!’
Israel also continues to shell shells elsewhere in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian doctors report that at least 23 people were killed on Sunday. This brings the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10 to 61. The Israeli army reports the death of two soldiers in the flare-up of fighting.
After the attack on the excavators, the language of Israeli politicians became increasingly belligerent over the course of Sunday. The far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir (National Security) and Bezalel Smotrich (Finance), who were already against the ceasefire, immediately called for the fighting to resume. The “illusion” that Hamas would comply with the agreement threatens Israeli security, Ben-Gvir said. Smotrich wrote a one-word statement: “War!”
Bodies
Last week the ceasefire seemed to be faltering. As agreed, Hamas released all living Israeli hostages in exchange for almost two thousand Palestinians being released from Israeli prisons. Releasing the bodies of deceased Israelis was a lot more difficult for Hamas.
According to the militant group, those bodies are not easy to find among the rubble of the shattered Gaza Strip, and heavy machinery is sometimes needed to dig them out. The group does not have those machines.
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Israel, in turn, says Hamas is not trying. As a retaliatory measure, Israel is currently closing the border crossing at the southern city of Rafah, while according to the agreement it should be opened to allow aid goods to pass through.
Hamas reasserted itself as the ruling power in Gaza immediately after the ceasefire came into effect. In doing so, the group killed militants from rival groups reportedly backed by Israel to weaken Hamas. The agreement stated that Hamas would no longer play a role in the future of Gaza and would surrender its weapons.
US President Donald Trump, under whose supervision the agreement was reached, expressed his concern on Sunday about Hamas’ actions. If militants don’t put down their weapons, he said, “we’ll have to do it for them” — without “American boots on the ground,” anyway.
Yellow line
There is also constant confusion about a ‘yellow line’ behind which the Israeli troops have withdrawn as agreed. A map showing such a yellow line was shared with the agreement, but on the ground it is often difficult to determine exactly where the line runs – especially for Palestinians without internet, while the area has been destroyed. Israel says it will shoot at Palestinians who cross the yellow line.
Even though both sides say they remain committed to the ceasefire, there is not much left of Trump’s ‘peace in the Middle East’ for now. Analysts point out a crucial flaw in the agreement: the administration of Gaza would be taken over by an ‘international stabilization force’, but that has not yet been formed. Hamas jumped into that vacuum. Hostages and prisoners have been exchanged, but for now the bullets are flying again.
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