Just a week after US President Donald Trump was hailed in Israel for brokering a Gaza ceasefire, the fragile truce has been shaken by renewed violence. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched heavy strikes across Gaza on Sunday after two soldiers were killed in Rafah, blaming Hamas for the attack — a charge the group denies.
The escalation killed at least 45 Palestinians, including children, according to Gaza hospitals. Hamas insists it lost communication with its Rafah fighters months ago, accusing Israel of using “pretexts” to resume war. Israel, meanwhile, suspended aid deliveries and closed crossings before reopening them under US pressure.
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Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are back in the region, meeting Israeli and Egyptian officials to salvage the deal and advance the next phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan — including a stabilization force, Israeli withdrawal, and Hamas disarmament.
Israeli commentators warn the ceasefire text is “vague” and full of loopholes, while Defence Minister Israel Katz has ordered Hamas fighters beyond the “Yellow Line” to retreat immediately. Both sides mourn new losses, and despite Washington’s optimism, the latest bloodshed underscores that Trump’s celebrated Gaza truce may be holding by the thinnest thread.
