New Delhi: The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered under US President Donald Trump’s phased plan just weeks ago, teeters on the brink after a deadly Rafah clash that claimed two Israeli soldiers’ lives.
In a fiery address to the Knesset on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) unleashed a staggering 153 tonnes of bombs on Gaza targets, framing it as a resolute riposte to Hamas’s alleged truce violation. “One hand wields a weapon, the other extends for peace — but strength is the bedrock of stability, and Israel stands stronger than ever,” Netanyahu declared, his words laced with defiance amid opposition jeers.
The strikes, targeting over a dozen sites including senior Hamas commanders, followed Hamas’s purported ambush in southern Gaza’s Rafah border area. While Tel Aviv decried it as a “blatant breach”, the Palestinian group vehemently denied involvement, insisting on its commitment to the October 10 agreement that envisioned hostage swaps, aid surges, and eventual reconstruction sans Hamas governance.
Netanyahu vowed to dismantle the militants’ military and administrative sinews entirely, underscoring that the campaign “is far from over.” He reiterated pledges to repatriate remaining hostages, noting some had already been freed, but cautioned, “This ceasefire is no licence for Hamas to menace Israel — aggression will exact a heavy toll.”
As the aerial onslaughts raged on Sunday, Palestinian sources tallied 45 civilian deaths, including women and children, with Gaza’s media office logging 80 Israeli truce infractions since the pact’s ink dried, claiming 97 fatalities overall.
The chaos halted aid inflows intended to alleviate the famine that was gripping hundreds of thousands, resulting in the closure of the Rafah crossing.
Enter US Vice President JD Vance, who touched down in Israel on Tuesday to buttress the truce, huddling with Netanyahu on “security hurdles and diplomatic openings”. Yet, with hardliners like Itamar Ben-Gvir baying for “maximum force” resumption, the spectre of all-out war looms large.
In this volatile situation, Netanyahu’s offer of compromise seems unwavering —will it be successful, or will it trigger further destruction?