Gaza City, October 20 (Udaipur Kiran): The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came under severe strain on Sunday after the killing of two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza prompted a series of intense airstrikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), leaving at least 45 people dead, according to Gaza authorities.
The Times of Israel reported that the attack on Israeli troops took place in the Rafah region early Sunday, when Palestinian militants ambushed a patrol. The soldiers killed were identified as Major Yaniv Kula (26) and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, while three others sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the IDF blamed Hamas for violating the truce and launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes on multiple targets. The military later announced that it had resumed adherence to the ceasefire following “political directives,” emphasizing that the escalation was a direct response to Hamas’ provocation.
An IDF statement read, “Israel remains committed to the ceasefire agreement, but any violation will be met with a strong response.”
According to Hamas’ civil defense agency, Israeli strikes targeted 20 locations, killing at least 45 people, including civilians. Israeli officials said the strikes aimed at underground tunnels and militant positions, accusing Hamas of using the ceasefire to regroup and stage attacks on Israeli forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior security officials, held an emergency meeting after the incident and authorized the retaliatory operation.
Meanwhile, the United States has intervened diplomatically to prevent the ceasefire from collapsing. Citing U.S. officials, Axios reported that Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, discussed the situation with Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The two American envoys are expected to visit Israel on Monday, followed by a scheduled trip by U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday.
The ceasefire, brokered on October 10, had brought a brief lull in the ongoing conflict, but Sunday’s escalation threatens to reignite hostilities in the volatile region.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
