Israel resumes ceasefire after strikes kill at least 45 in Gaza

Israel announced on Sunday evening that it had resumed enforcing the Gaza ceasefire after carrying out dozens of deadly airstrikes across the enclave, which killed at least 45 Palestinians in what marked the most serious escalation since the nine-day-old truce began.

Gaza’s civil defence agency, said the Israeli strikes killed 45 people and wounded scores more. Four hospitals in Gaza confirmed the toll to AFP, saying they had received the dead and wounded. The Israeli military said it was "looking into the reports of casualties".

In a statement, the Israeli army said the air raids were launched in response to what it described as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire by Hamas fighters.

"Based on directives from the political leadership, and after a series of decisive strikes in response to Hamas violations, we have begun re-implementing the ceasefire,” the military said, vowing to “respond firmly to any violation of it."

The army claimed that Palestinian fighters had fired anti-tank missiles and opened fire on Israeli forces operating in Rafah, prompting retaliatory strikes by "fighter jets and artillery".

Hamas denied any involvement, saying Israel was fabricating "flimsy pretexts" to resume the war.

Witnesses in Rafah told AFP that clashes erupted in areas still under illegal Israeli control. Abdullah Abu Hasanin, a resident of al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, said: "The situation is as if the war has returned anew. We had hoped the agreement would hold, but the occupation [Israel] respects nothing - not an agreement, not anything."

The tens of Palestinians killed by the Israeli strikes included 11 members of the same family after their shelter was bombed in Gaza City. 

According to Hamas, Israeli forces have continued to breach the truce since it came into effect on 10 October. In a statement earlier on Sunday, the group said it "remains committed to the ceasefire and is implementing its terms with full precision and responsibility".

Later that night, Gaza’s Media Office said the Israeli army had committed at least 80 violations since the ceasefire began, killing 97 people and injuring another 230.

It described the actions as "flagrant and clear violations of the ceasefire decision and the rules of international humanitarian law," adding that violations were recorded "in all governorates of Gaza without exception".

The Israeli government’s handling of the truce and humanitarian aid also sparked political infighting.

Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned what he called "a shameful backdown" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the government reversed its earlier decision to halt aid to Gaza.

"We must stop this idea and return to violent fighting as soon as possible — manoeuvres, invasion, and encouragement of emigration," Ben-Gvir wrote on X.

Channel 12 later reported that Israel had reversed the aid suspension following pressure from Washington, promising to reopen the crossings on Monday. A US message to Israel, cited by Israeli media, said: "You may respond to violations, but without undermining the agreement."

The US did not comment on Israel's daily violations of the truce agreement. 

Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, reiterated that it had "no knowledge of any incidents or clashes taking place in Rafah", stressing its "full commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement".

The ceasefire, brokered in Sharm el-Sheikh on 9 October under President Donald Trump’s plan, aimed to end more than two years of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.