Under US Pressure, Israel Reverses Course: Ceasefire Renewed After Deadly Rafah Attack

Israel has officially announced it is renewing the ceasefire with Hamas, reversing an earlier decision to halt humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza, following intense pressure from the US administration. The reversal comes after a deadly ambush in Rafah claimed the lives of two Israeli soldiers, an incident that prompted a massive aerial bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Initially, following the fatal attack this morning, the Israeli political leadership ordered the immediate suspension of aid delivery and the closure of all crossings into Gaza. However, sources close to the Prime Minister’s office quickly briefed the media that the stoppage was temporary, stating that the "movement of trucks that Israel halted will resume once the bombing is concluded."

Throughout the day, the US administration pressured Israel to exhibit a "proportional response" and avoid any action that could completely collapse the existing agreement. This pressure ultimately led to the change in policy. The IDF confirmed the renewal, stating that in accordance with the political echelon’s directive, the army has begun re-enforcing the ceasefire after Hamas's violation.

The Fatal Ambush in Rafah

The severe breach of the truce occurred around 10:30 AM in the Rafah area. A force from the Nahal Brigade's 932nd Battalion was operating within the “Yellow Line” operational zone to clear a suspected underground tunnel network. Terrorists emerged from a tunnel, opened fire, and launched an anti-tank missile at the soldiers.

The two soldiers killed in the ambush were Staff Sergeant Itay Ya'avetz, 21, and Major Yaniv Kula, 26, a company commander. Major Kula leaves behind a wife, parents, and two brothers, while Staff Sergeant Ya'avetz is survived by his parents and a brother.

The incident was one of several ceasefire violations reported by Hamas across the Strip, including sniper fire against another Israeli force in the Jannina area.

The loss was deeply felt in the soldiers' hometown of Modi'in Maccabim Re'ut. The head of the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in Modi'in, Rabbi Shmuel Rosenblum, eulogized Major Kula, a former student, as "a serious person and a leader even in his childhood who always sought to contribute and do things of value." Mayor Haim Bibas added that the two, both graduates of the city's education system, "were educated on the values of love for mankind and the state. Each in his own way, with heroism, humility, and dedication."

The Parity of the Crossings

Following the initial attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held a telephone security assessment to determine the nature of the military response. The Prime Minister's office later announced that the military was instructed to act "with force against terror targets in the Gaza Strip," leading to the massive aerial response that saw dozens of Hamas targets hit.

Hamas's military wing later announced they had located a body of an Israeli captive and would transfer it today "if conditions on the ground allow."

Despite the initial order to close the crossings indefinitely, a senior Israeli official later conceded that the crossings would reopen tomorrow for truck movement, explaining the closure was temporary due to the intensity of the retaliatory bombings. Israel, however, stressed that the Rafah Crossing would only reopen when there is a "reasonable pace" in the return of the deceased captives.

An American official familiar with the situation had warned earlier in the day, "We knew an event like this was brewing, and it's only a matter of time. The more we allow Hamas and Israel to attack each other, the more they will attack each other." The successful US pressure ensures that the ceasefire agreement, though severely strained, remains in effect.