Truce in tatters: Israel renews Gaza ceasefire hours after powerful strikes; attack kills 81

The Israeli military on Wednesday said it had reinstated the ceasefire in Gaza after carrying out a series of strikes on dozens of militant targets in response to what it called Hamas violations of the truce, according to AFP.

“Following a series of strikes, in which dozens of terror targets and terrorists were struck, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire in response to Hamas' violations,” the Israel defense forces (IDF) said.

It added that the IDF and ISA had struck “30 terrorists holding command positions within the terrorist organisations operating in the Gaza Strip.”

The Israeli military said it would continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement but “respond firmly to any violation of the deal.”

According to AP, deathtoll from overnight airstrikes across Gaza climbed to 81, including over 20 children and multiple women, marking one of the most serious challenges to the fragile truce since it came into effect earlier this month. Hospitals in Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and central Gaza reported receiving dozens of bodies following multiple Israeli strikes.

Shifa hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia says he expects the death toll to rise as many of the 45 wounded that the hospital took in are in critical condition, among them are 20 children.

The escalation followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for “powerful strikes” after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire. He said the group’s decision to delay handing over the body of another hostage amounted to a breach of the agreement.

US President Donald Trump, speaking aboard air force one during his Asia visit, defended Israel’s actions, saying the country was “justified in hitting back” after what he described as an incident in which Hamas killed an Israeli soldier during gunfire in Rafah. Hamas denied involvement and accused Israel of breaching the deal.

The truce, which began on October 10, was brokered with international mediation to halt months of fighting. Both sides have since traded blame for intermittent violations.