Dozens of Sites, Including Weapons Depots, Struck
"Accusing Hamas of Violating the Agreement"
Israel has temporarily resumed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement.
On the 15th (local time), buildings in Gaza City destroyed by two years of Israeli military bombings. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to AFP and other sources on the 19th (local time), the Israeli military announced in a statement, "This morning, in response to the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, we have launched attacks on Hamas terrorist targets in southern Gaza." The statement added that the attacks targeted tunnels and weapons depots used for terrorism.
After carrying out dozens of strikes, the Israeli military stated that it would resume implementing the ceasefire agreement that night, emphasizing, "We will continue to uphold the agreement and respond firmly to any violations."
This marks the most precarious moment since the first phase of the ceasefire, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, took effect on the 10th-just nine days ago. Earlier that morning, Israeli media reported that the Israeli military was attacking Rafah in southern Gaza, and the military later confirmed that it had conducted airstrikes in Rafah using fighter jets and artillery.
The Israeli military explained that, while dismantling terrorist infrastructure in the area as part of the ceasefire agreement, they came under attack from "Palestinian extremists" with anti-tank missiles and firearms, and that this airstrike was in response to a "serious violation of the ceasefire agreement."
The Israeli military reported that two of its soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Gaza. This is the first time Israeli fatalities have occurred since the ceasefire took effect. In a briefing, an Israeli military spokesperson said that Hamas had fired at least three times at Israeli forces located inside the yellow line (the withdrawal line for Israeli forces in Gaza under the agreement), and warned, "There is a possibility of additional airstrikes."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and other senior security officials following Hamas's violation of the ceasefire agreement, instructed "strong measures" against terrorist targets in Gaza, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Defense Minister Katz warned in a statement, "Every time Hamas violates the ceasefire or launches an attack, it will pay a heavy price."
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, wrote on social media platform X, "The mistaken belief that Hamas would change and comply with the ceasefire agreement has, as expected, proven dangerous to our security," and urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to "fully and with maximum force resume hostile actions."
An Israeli official stated that, due to Hamas's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza would also be suspended "until further notice." The previous day, it was announced that the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian border-the main gateway into Gaza-would remain closed until further notice.
Israel and Hamas are also at odds over the return of hostages and the bodies of the deceased. Hamas has returned all 20 surviving hostages but claims difficulties in recovering the bodies of deceased hostages and has not specified when the process will be completed.
On the previous night, Hamas returned the bodies of two additional hostages. They were identified as Israeli Ronen Engel and Thai farm worker Sontaya Okkarasri. This brings the total number of hostage bodies returned by Hamas to Israel to 12 out of 28. Israel stated that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas was not that of a hostage. The Al-Qassam Brigades announced that they had recovered the body of one Israeli hostage that day and would hand over the 13th hostage body if possible within the day.
Hamas announced via Telegram that a delegation had arrived in Cairo that day to meet with Egyptian mediators. Israel's Kan Radio reported that, in an effort to resolve the Gaza ceasefire crisis, President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are scheduled to visit Israel on the 20th.
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