Israel Renews Ceasefire After Gaza Strikes; Trump Urges ‘Peaceful’ Approach With Hamas

Israel has declared that it has resumed the application of the ceasefire in Gaza following a series of air attacks that it had carried out in retaliation to what it perceived as the blatant violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.

“In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, and following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire, in line with the terms of the agreement," the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a post on X. “The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it."

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Reacting to the most recent military operation by Israel, US President Donald Trump told reporters on the Air Force One“We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas."

The IDF had earlier on Sunday reported that it had conducted raids on dozens of Hamas-affiliated targets within Gaza, including weapons stores, firing posts, terrorist cells as well as about six kilometres of underground tunnels that it claimed should be used to coordinate attacks. The IDF claimed that more than 120 munitions were used in the operation.

The attacks were preceded by an increase in the activities of Hamas in Rafah, where militants were reported to have launched an anti-tank missile and gunfire at the IDF forces destroying terror infrastructure during ceasefire conditions.“These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly," the military said.

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Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu did pay condolence to the families of two Israeli soldiers who were killed during the Rafah incident, Major Yaniv Kula and Staff Sergeant Itay Ya’avetz.“Their courage and heroism will be cherished in our hearts forever," Netanyahu said in a statement.

In the meantime, Gaza Media Office reported that 97 individuals were killed and 230 others wounded since the ceasefire was declared on October 10. It leveled charges against Israel of 80 overt and transparent violations of the truce and the international humanitarian law.

Al Jazeera, citing hospital sources, said that at least 42 Palestinians were killed on Sunday alone, one of the most deadly days since the US-brokered ceasefire in the country.

The Gaza health authorities have reported some 68,159 people have died in the enclave with over 170,203 others wounded since the war broke out on October 7, 2023.

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