Israel Launches Heavy Airstrikes on Gaza After Alleged Ceasefire Violation

Israel launched a series of large-scale airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, accusing Hamas of violating the fragile ceasefire that had been in place for nearly three weeks. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes were a direct response to the killing of an Israeli reservist in southern Gaza earlier that day, an incident the military called a “clear breach” of the truce agreement.

According to Gaza health authorities, at least 60 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in the overnight bombardment. The attacks targeted multiple locations from Gaza City in the north to Khan Younis in the south, striking residential areas, warehouses, and what Israel described as “Hamas military infrastructure.” Eyewitnesses reported massive explosions and widespread damage to civilian property, with rescue workers struggling to retrieve victims from the rubble. Hospitals across Gaza, already operating under severe shortages of medicine and fuel, were reportedly overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.

Hamas, however, denied responsibility for the soldier’s death and accused Israel of using the incident as a pretext for renewed aggression. In a statement, the group reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire, arguing that Israel’s actions threatened to “destroy the fragile peace” brokered earlier this month through U.S. and Qatari mediation. Hamas officials claimed that Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts had already strained the truce, leaving Gazans in dire conditions.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally ordered “forceful strikes” against Hamas positions following consultations with senior defense officials. Netanyahu defended the move, saying Israel “will not tolerate attacks on its soldiers or citizens” and warning that any future violations would be met with “decisive military action.”

The U.S.-backed ceasefire, announced on October 10, had brought a brief period of relative calm after nearly two years of intense fighting. American officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, said the U.S. was monitoring the situation closely but maintained that the truce “technically remains in place.” Washington has urged both sides to exercise restraint to prevent a complete breakdown of the agreement.

International observers expressed concern that the renewed hostilities could quickly spiral into a wider conflict. The United Nations called for “urgent de-escalation” and warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where electricity shortages and damaged infrastructure have already pushed civilians to the brink.

As both sides traded blame, the latest strikes underscored how precarious the ceasefire remains, highlighting the volatile mix of mistrust, political pressure, and humanitarian desperation that continues to define the Israel-Hamas conflict.