Jerusalem:
What many observers had feared has now become reality — Israel has been compelled once again to take military action.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a fresh wave of airstrikes across Gaza, following a deadly Hamas attack on Israeli troops in Rafah that claimed the lives of two Israeli soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the assault as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire”, asserting that Israel was left with no choice but to retaliate.
“Israel struck dozens of targets, including positions linked to senior Hamas commanders,” Netanyahu said, emphasizing that the strikes were a necessary step to restore deterrence.
Hamas, however, denied involvement in the Rafah attack. We strengthened Israel’s deterrence, we straightened our posture, we brought back our hostages — all the living; some of the slain are still there.
We will bring them back too,” Netanyahu declared, vowing that the campaign is far from over.
According to the Times of Israel, the prime minister reiterated that Israel’s goal remains the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
Ceasefire on the Brink
The already fragile ceasefire — painstakingly brokered over recent months by regional mediators — appears to be hanging by a thread.
The Rafah assault was the latest in a series of violent flashpoints that have repeatedly tested the truce’s endurance.
Following the attack, Israeli jets pounded multiple locations in southern Gaza, targeting what were described as militant strongholds and weapons depots.
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that at least 33 people were killed, while the Palestinian health ministry put the cumulative death toll at over 68,000 since the conflict began in October 2023, with thousands still missing under the rubble.
Amid the renewed hostilities, Hamas handed over two coffins believed to contain the remains of Israeli hostages — bringing the total number of returned bodies to 12.
Israel, however, continues to keep its border crossings closed, accusing Hamas of deliberate delay and non-cooperation in hostage negotiations.
The closure has left thousands of Palestinians stranded, unable to travel for medical treatment or family reunions since May 2024.
Netanyahu: ‘Peace Must Be Built on Strength’
In a nationally televised statement, Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s response was unavoidable, warning that the ceasefire cannot be a shield for aggression.
There is and will be a very heavy price for any attack against us,” he said. “The ceasefire does not mean that Hamas has a license to threaten Israel or harm its soldiers.”
He also reiterated that Israel’s “sacred mission” remains the return of all hostages — living or dead, and that no amount of international pressure would deter Israel from defending itself.
Peace is made with the strong, not the weak. Today, the world knows that Israel is a strong nation — one that will never allow its security to be compromised,” Netanyahu asserted.
An Expected Turn of Events
Analysts had long warned that Israel’s restraint under the truce would be tested, given persistent militant provocations and cross-border incidents in Gaza and Rafah.
The latest escalation underscores how circumstances have once again compelled Israel to respond militarily, despite diplomatic efforts to sustain calm.
With each round of violence, hopes for a lasting peace appear increasingly fragile — and Israel’s military doctrine of deterrence continues to shape the region’s volatile future.
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