Israel–Hamas Ceasefire in Crisis: 47 Violations as Airstrikes Rock Rafah

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire in Crisis: 47 Violations as Airstrikes Rock Rafah, shaking fragile truce. The already fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas teetered on the brink of collapse on Sunday as Israeli airstrikes struck southern Gaza’s Rafah.

Israeli media, including Channel 12 and Kan News, reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched the strikes after “terror operatives” in the Gaza Strip opened fire on Israeli troops. According to The Times of Israel, Hamas-aligned fighters attacked Israeli forces in Rafah, prompting retaliatory airstrikes in the area.

While Israeli officials have yet to issue a formal statement, government sources confirmed to AFP that Hamas fighters used sniper fire and a rocket-propelled grenade against IDF units in southern Gaza. The strikes mark the most serious escalation since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to end nearly two years of relentless conflict.

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire in Crisis: 47 Violations as Airstrikes Rock Rafah

Conflicting Narratives: Who Broke the Truce?

Both Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for violating the ceasefire.

The Gaza government media office said on Saturday that Israel had committed 47 ceasefire violations, killing at least 38 Palestinians and injuring 143 others. It accused Israel of “targeting civilian areas” and maintaining a blockade on key aid crossings.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said on Friday that “several terrorists opened fire” on its soldiers in Rafah, causing no casualties. Later, the IDF reported striking another group of “terrorists” approaching troops in Khan Younis, asserting that operations would continue “to remove immediate threats.”

These incidents, occurring just days after the truce began, underscore the deep mistrust between both sides despite international mediation.

Netanyahu Briefed as Military Responds

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly briefed on the situation by Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military officials as the escalation unfolded.

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 said Netanyahu held an emergency phone consultation with Katz and top IDF commanders on the situation in Rafah.

In a televised interview on Saturday, Netanyahu reiterated that the war would not end until Hamas disarms. “When that is successfully completed — hopefully in an easy way, but if not, in a hard way — then the war will end,” he said on Channel 14.

Netanyahu’s office also confirmed that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, saying it will reopen only if Hamas fulfills its commitments under the truce deal.

Hamas Accuses Israel of Undermining Ceasefire

Following Sunday’s strikes, Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and “acting under pressure” from its right-wing coalition partners.

A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that “Netanyahu’s attempts to evade his obligations come under pressure from his own extremist terrorist coalition.”

Hamas also condemned what it described as “continuous Israeli provocations”, including the targeting of civilians and restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The group called on the United States to “stop repeating the occupation’s misleading narrative and instead focus on curbing its repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.”

“The facts on the ground reveal the exact opposite, as the occupation authorities are the ones who formed, armed, and funded criminal gangs that carried out killings, kidnappings, theft of aid trucks, and assaults against Palestinian civilians,” Hamas said in a statement.

Deadliest Violation: Eleven Killed in Gaza City

In what Gaza’s authorities described as the deadliest single breach of the truce, an Israeli tank shell hit a vehicle carrying displaced Palestinians in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood on Friday, killing eleven people, including seven children and three women.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence, said the family likely could not distinguish between military “yellow” and “red lines” that mark Israeli-controlled zones.

“I am certain the family couldn’t distinguish between the yellow and red lines because there are no actual physical markers on the ground,” he said.

The Israeli army claimed the vehicle had crossed a “yellow line,” but declined to provide further comment.

Also Read: Gaza ceasefire at risk? Israel speaks of ‘Phase 2’ amid blame game over truce violations

Violence Spreads to the West Bank

The escalation has not been limited to Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces carried out multiple raids that resulted in civilian casualties and property destruction.

A 42-year-old Palestinian man was killed in an Israeli raid in the al-Ein refugee camp near Nablus, while an 11-year-old child, Mohammad Hallaq, was shot dead in Al-Rihiya, south of Hebron.

Human rights groups reported a surge in settler violence in several towns since the ceasefire took effect, calling it part of a pattern of impunity amid the truce breakdown.

Hostage Dispute Adds to Tensions

A key sticking point in the ceasefire implementation has been the return of hostages and bodies held by Hamas.

Under the US-brokered agreement — part of what Washington calls the “Trump Plan” — Hamas was to return all 48 hostages, including 20 alive and 28 deceased, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a partial Israeli military withdrawal from urban centres in Gaza.

So far, Hamas has returned 20 live hostages and 12 bodies, saying the remaining remains are buried under rubble and require special recovery equipment. Israel insists that Hamas is delaying the process intentionally.

Netanyahu’s office said:

“Its reopening will be considered based on how Hamas fulfils its obligations to return the hostages and the bodies of the deceased, and to implement the agreed-upon terms.”

Humanitarian Aid Blocked Amid Famine Threat

The continued closure of Rafah crossing has worsened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The UN and aid agencies say the blockade is obstructing life-saving assistance to a population already suffering famine-like conditions after months of war.

Under the ceasefire terms, Israel was to permit a surge of humanitarian aid, including fuel, medical supplies, and food deliveries. However, most convoys remain stalled at the Egyptian side of the crossing.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned in August that hundreds of thousands of Gazans face famine, describing the enclave as one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.

International Reactions: Calls for Restraint

The United States, Qatar, and Egypt, key mediators of the ceasefire, have all called for restraint.

A US State Department spokesperson expressed concern over the renewed violence, saying Washington is “in contact with both sides to prevent escalation.”

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the civilian deaths, calling on Israel to “respect the ceasefire framework and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza without obstruction.”

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the airstrikes as a “serious violation” of the truce and urged both parties to “avoid provocations that could collapse the agreement.”

A Fragile Ceasefire Faces Uncertain Future

The latest flare-up highlights the fragility of the current ceasefire, which was meant to pave the way for a long-term peace process and eventual Palestinian statehood talks.

While the truce initially brought a brief pause in the fighting, persistent mutual distrust, unfulfilled commitments, and recurring violence threaten to unravel it entirely.

Analysts warn that unless both Israel and Hamas fully adhere to the ceasefire’s terms — including the return of all hostages, aid delivery, and de-escalation along the borders — the conflict could reignite into full-scale war.

For Gaza’s civilians, who have endured years of siege, bombardment, and displacement, the resumption of hostilities would represent another devastating setback in a conflict with no clear end in sight.

Also Read: Trump’s Breakthrough Gaza Ceasefire Deal 2025: Key Insights