Ceasefire in Gaza: A Fragile Truce Amid Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts

The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is under a fragile truce as both the Israeli army and Hamas have accused each other of violations. On Sunday, the Israeli army stated that it had resumed its commitment to the ceasefire and planned to allow the delivery of food and essential goods to the Strip on Monday, after a complete blockage on Sunday. Anonymous Israeli military officials indicated that the border crossings at Kerem Shalom and Kissufim—vital links between Israel and Gaza—were due to reopen during the day. However, the Rafah crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt and does not require crossing through Israeli territory, is expected to remain closed. On the same day, the Israeli military conducted multiple bombings in southern Gaza. This military action was presented as a retaliation for an attack in Rafah, which left two Israeli soldiers dead. While Hamas admitted to the attack, it contended that it was not in direct contact with its fighters in the Rafah area and thus accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement. In confirmation, the Israeli army acknowledged that it had fired upon individuals near the designated yellow line—behind which Israeli forces are supposed to retreat as per the ceasefire terms. Notably, Israel still occupies over 50% of Gaza’s territory. The ceasefire took effect on October 10th, according to Hamas-controlled Gaza government sources. Since its initiation, subsequent Israeli assaults have resulted in 97 fatalities, including at least 26 during Sunday’s bombardments. Many international and Israeli media outlets view the events on Sunday as a critical test of the ceasefire's durability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who are urging a resumption of military operations citing the attacks as justification. Their demands also include actions against Hamas for not returning all hostages' remains, with only 12 of the 28 bodies being returned so far. The situation remains precarious, leaving it challenging to predict how long the ceasefire will endure. In conjunction with these developments, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that the ceasefire remains in effect, expressing uncertainty regarding the involvement of Hamas leadership in the attack on Israeli soldiers. Trump, who mediated the ceasefire agreement and regards it as a diplomatic achievement, emphasizes the importance of its longevity. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner have recently arrived in Israel, having played critical roles in the negotiations. Vice President JD Vance is expected to join on Tuesday, and their mission is to persuade Netanyahu to continue discussions regarding the next phases of Trump's peace plan, which is deemed highly favorable to Israel. Khalil al-Hayya, leading a Hamas delegation, has returned to Egypt to engage in talks surrounding the future of the region. Nonetheless, significant unresolved issues persist regarding Gaza's future, particularly concerning reconstruction, the disarmament of Hamas, and its exclusion from governing the Strip. These delicate subjects pose a major challenge in reaching consensus among the conflicting parties. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2