Israel Says Gaza Ceasefire Resumed After Overnight Strikes
The period of fragile calm between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas looked to be hanging by a thread early Wednesday, but Israel announced that the ceasefire had been reinstated following a sharp escalation of strikes in Gaza.
Trigger of the escalation
The governing deal, which took effect in mid-October, was thrown into jeopardy when Israeli aircraft launched a series of air-strikes in Gaza overnight. Israel cited these strikes as a response to what it described as a violation of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.
The IDF said it would resume enforcing the ceasefire from Wednesday morning, after the offensive.
What the ceasefire entails
The agreement, brokered by the Donald Trump administration and announced on October 10, was meant to halt full-scale hostilities, enable humanitarian access, and start a stabilization phase in Gaza
The truce had already seen multiple challenges, including claims of earlier violations by both sides.
What happened this time
In its statement, the IDF indicated the overnight strikes targeted dozens of “terror targets” and “terrorists in command positions”. It said that once the action concluded, the ceasefire enforcement would resume.
The flare-up is described as one of the most serious since the ceasefire began.
Why it matters
The renewed enforcement of the ceasefire offers a brief relief, but experts warn the underlying risks remain high:
- The triggers of the fight-back reveal how tenuous the arrangement is.
- Civilian risk remains acute in Gaza, given the previous violence and humanitarian conditions.
- The deal’s durability will heavily depend on both sides adhering to its terms, and on international actors pushing for compliance.
Outlook
For now the truce stands — but only tentatively. Israel’s warning that any further violation will be met with force underscores how quickly the situation could reverse. Hamas, for its part, must weigh its next moves carefully if the ceasefire is to hold.
If you like, I can pull together a detailed timeline of how the ceasefire negotiation evolved and highlight what’s at stake in the next phase of this conflict. Would you like that?
