Israel Restores Ceasefire, Resumes Aid Deliveries After Gaza Airstrikes Kill 26
Israel Restores Gaza Ceasefire After Airstrikes Kill 26 Amid Renewed Tensions
The Israeli military announced on Sunday, October 19, that a ceasefire in Gaza had been reinstated following a deadly flare-up that threatened to unravel the month-old U.S.-brokered truce.
The escalation began after an attack killed two Israeli soldiers, prompting Israeli retaliatory airstrikes across the enclave that left at least 26 people dead, according to local health officials.
Following U.S. diplomatic pressure, aid shipments into Gaza are expected to resume on Monday, an Israeli security source confirmed. Israel had earlier suspended humanitarian supplies, accusing Hamas of “blatantly” breaching the truce.
Israeli strikes targeted several Hamas positions, including tunnels, weapons depots, and field commanders. One strike reportedly hit a former school sheltering displaced civilians in Nuseirat. Among the victims were a woman and a child, witnesses said.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner are set to visit Israel on Monday to reinforce diplomatic efforts to maintain the ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered a “strong and immediate” response to what he described as Hamas’s violations, while Hamas’s armed wing denied involvement in the clashes, insisting it remained committed to the truce.
Fearful of further violence, some Palestinians rushed to buy supplies, while families fled their homes in Khan Younis amid reports of fresh airstrikes nearby.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the “yellow line” marking the pullback zone for Israeli forces would be physically marked, and any attempt to cross it would be met with fire. Hamas, in turn, detailed what it said was a series of Israeli violations that have led to 46 deaths and halted essential supplies.
A key point of contention remains the return of the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages. Israel says Hamas is being too slow in handing over the bodies of the remaining deceased captives. Hamas, which released all 20 living hostages last week and has since handed over 12 of the 28 deceased captives, maintains that special equipment is needed to recover corpses buried under rubble.
The Rafah border crossing, which has largely been shut since May 2024, will remain closed, with its reopening dependent on Hamas fulfilling its obligations under the ceasefire. Although the flow of aid through another crossing had increased, the United Nations emphasizes that far more aid is needed to address the severe hunger affecting hundreds of thousands in Gaza.
Formidable obstacles remain in the way of a durable peace, including unresolved key questions surrounding Hamas disarming, the future governance of Gaza, the make-up of an international “stabilization force,” and any progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state.
