Frontier Correspondent
Renewed violence threatens fragile truce as both sides trade blame over Rafah incident
The U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire — once a fragile hope to end two years of relentless conflict — is now on the brink of collapse. Israeli airstrikes on Sunday killed at least 42 Palestinians, including women and children, in crowded refugee camps.
Israel said the attacks were retaliation for a Hamas assault in Rafah that left two soldiers dead. Hamas denied responsibility, accusing Israel of fabricating pretexts to escalate hostilities. The strikes, the heaviest since the October 10 truce, have reignited fears of a return to full-scale war.
Rafah Attack Sparks Deadly Retaliation
Early Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that “terrorists” in Rafah fired an anti-tank missile and opened fire on troops, killing Major Yaniv Kula (26) and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz (21) — the first Israeli deaths since the ceasefire.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the incident a “blatant violation” by Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then ordered airstrikes on alleged Hamas tunnel shafts and military targets across southern and central Gaza.
Palestinian officials said 97 people have died and over 230 have been injured since the truce began. Sunday’s toll included a family of eleven in Bureij Camp and four displaced people in a Nuseirat school shelter. Explosions rocked Rafah, Khan Younis, and Beit Lahia, forcing families to flee into the streets.
Doubts Over Israel’s Claims
Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades denied involvement, claiming no contact with Rafah-based units since March. U.S. media, citing Pentagon sources, reported that the soldiers’ deaths may have resulted from an Israeli bulldozer detonating unexploded ordnance, not a Hamas attack.
The revelation has cast doubt on Israel’s justification for the strikes.
Israel briefly halted humanitarian aid and closed the Rafah crossing, accusing Hamas of delaying recovery of 16 deceased hostages’ bodies — a key truce condition. Hamas countered that Israel had restricted necessary equipment, insisting it had “no interest in keeping the bodies.”
Under U.S. pressure, Israel said aid deliveries would resume Monday. The IDF vowed to “enforce the truce” while maintaining “firm responses” to any violations.
Trump’s Reassurance and U.S. Diplomatic Push
President Donald Trump, whose 20-point peace plan freed 20 Israeli hostages and over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, told reporters aboard Air Force One that the ceasefire “is still in effect” and would be handled “toughly but properly.”
He suggested Hamas leadership may not have ordered the Rafah attack but warned of “eradication” if violations continue.
The White House had earlier warned of “credible reports” that Hamas was plotting attacks on Palestinian civilians accused of collaborating with Israel — a “grave breach” of the truce. Hamas dismissed the claims as “Israeli propaganda.”
Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner were dispatched to Israel on Monday to push for the next phase of Trump’s peace framework — Israeli withdrawal, Gaza reconstruction, and Hamas disarmament.
Regional Tensions Rise: Houthi Escalation
The Gaza tensions coincided with a fresh crisis in Yemen, where Houthi rebels detained 20 U.N. staffers — five Yemenis and 15 international workers from UNICEF and the World Food Programme — in Sanaa on Sunday.
The rebels, accusing them of espionage, later released 11 detainees but continued to obstruct humanitarian operations.
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping linked to Israel have also intensified, prompting U.S.-led retaliatory strikes. The developments have further destabilized the already volatile region.
Ceasefire at a Crossroads
As residents of Khan Younis and Nuseirat sifted through rubble, fears mounted that the truce could unravel entirely — echoing the March collapse that reignited fighting earlier this year.
Far-right Israeli leaders such as Itamar Ben-Gvir urged “maximum force,” while Hamas warned that continued strikes would mean “total collapse.”
With humanitarian convoys stalled at border crossings and mediators scrambling to salvage Trump’s Gaza peace plan, the enclave’s 2.3 million residents remain trapped between fragile peace and looming conflict.
The United Nations called for restraint to preserve the deal that ended a war claiming more than 68,000 Palestinian lives. Yet as distrust deepens, the coming days may determine whether diplomacy or devastation prevails in Gaza.