Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commanded his armed forces on 28 October 2025 to immediately execute powerful strikes across the Gaza Strip after officials reported gunfire from Hamas fighters against Israel Defense Forces operating in southern sectors, including Rafah, prompting a rapid escalation that endangered an already fragile ceasefire.
Residents in Gaza City reported that Israeli aircraft launched strikes as tanks fired from multiple positions and sent explosions across urban districts. Local medical teams described mounting casualties and chaotic evacuations as civilians fled toward limited shelters while emergency responders attempted to navigate damaged roads and overwhelmed facilities.
The order followed a United States-brokered ceasefire that began on 10 October 2025 and had already faced strain. Authorities from the Israeli government have claimed that Hamas violated the agreement through gunfire directed at the Israel Defense Forces and through the disputed return of remains that Israeli forensic teams later regarded as misidentified.
Israeli officials stated that one recovered body had already been buried in November 2023, but was returned under unclear circumstances. Authorities further claimed that 13 deceased hostages remain in Gaza. However, for its part, Hamas explained that movement restrictions and massive damage impeded recovery efforts and complicated attempts to locate remains.
Egypt dispatched engineering teams and heavy equipment into Gaza to assist searches for missing hostages. Works are concentrated in Khan Yunis City and Nuseirat Camp. Israeli government officials described the incomplete return of remains as an obstacle to implementing later phases of the ceasefire agreement and warned that progress remained stalled.
United States officials urged restraint and emphasized the importance of preserving the ceasefire despite rising pressure within Israel for a forceful response. It is possible that the renewed strikes could unravel the fragile agreement, trigger confrontation, and intensify humanitarian strain across Gaza, where medical facilities and aid operations face shortages.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Blackburn, G. 28 October 2025. “Israeli PM Netanyahu Orders Military to Immediately Carry Out ‘Powerful Strikes’ on Gaza.” Euronews. Available online
- Stacks, L., Toler, A., and Lajka, A. 28 October 2025. “Netanyahu Orders Strikes in Gaza, as Israel Says Hamas Violated Cease-Fire.” The New York Times. Available online
- Tondo, L. and Christou, W. 28 October 2025. “Israel Strikes Gaza after Netanyahu Accuses Hamas of Breaching Ceasefire.” The Guardian. Available online