 "People take part in a demonstration outside the Israeli prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on October 18, 2025, calling for the release of all the bodies of hostages held in Gaza by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.- AFP")
The fragile nine-day-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came under renewed strain on Sunday, as both sides accused each other of violating the truce.
The tensions emerged after the Israeli military launched air strikes in response to attacks it said were carried out by Hamas militants, while Hamas maintained it was adhering to the agreement and announced it had recovered the body of an Israeli hostage to be returned “if field conditions allow.”
“Today, the Al-Qassam Brigades found the body of one of the Israeli captives during ongoing search operations,” Hamas said on its Telegram channel. If the handover proceeds, it will mark the 13th deceased Israeli hostage returned since the truce went into effect last week, underscoring the sensitive and ongoing negotiations over hostages and bodies.
Israel, however, has warned of a forceful response to any perceived violations. Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “Hamas will pay a heavy price for every shot and every breach of the ceasefire. If the message is not understood, our response will become increasingly severe,” according to Reuters.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed security forces to take “strong action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,” linking Hamas’ alleged actions to breaches of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump and enacted on 10 October, had brought a temporary halt to over two years of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas. It also established a framework for hostage and prisoner exchanges alongside a roadmap for Gaza’s post-war future.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsYet the implementation has faced immediate hurdles. In southern Gaza’s Rafah and northern Beit Lahia, the Israeli military reported responding with air strikes after attacks on its forces, while Palestinian witnesses said the clashes involved local gangs and that the Israeli army appeared unexpectedly.
Hamas has consistently denied initiating clashes, accusing Israel of fabricating “pretexts” to resume attacks. Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Al Jazeera, Israel “continues to breach the agreement and fabricate flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes.”
Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 13 deaths across the territory amid the renewed violence, although the Israeli military said it was investigating the reports.
The handling of hostages and bodies remains a central and contentious issue in the truce’s fragile execution. On Sunday, Israel identified two more bodies returned overnight—Ronen Engel, a 54-year-old volunteer ambulance driver, and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, a farmworker with a young daughter.
In parallel, Israel returned 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, bringing the total to 150, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Reopening of the Rafah crossing, vital for food, fuel, and medical supplies, remains contingent on progress in returning hostages and deceased, with Netanyahu’s office linking any further easing to Hamas’ compliance with the agreed framework.
National security voices within Israel are pressing for a harsher stance. Right-wing minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the army to “fully resume fighting in the Strip with all force,” reflecting hardline opposition to any perceived leniency.
Meanwhile, Hamas has resisted disarming and is attempting to reassert control over Gaza, citing the technical challenges of recovering bodies from rubble and the need for additional time and assistance.
The truce has, therefore, created a tenuous and fragile balance. While both sides publicly commit to adherence, incidents on the ground, coupled with the slow pace of hostage and body returns, highlight the continuing volatility in Gaza.
Analysts note that the ceasefire’s durability depends not only on strict compliance by both parties but also on the reopening of humanitarian corridors to alleviate civilian suffering, with delays at the Rafah crossing likely to exacerbate tensions and humanitarian needs.
As the 13th Israeli hostage body awaits handover, the cycle of accusations and retaliatory strikes underscores the persistent mistrust and fragility of the ceasefire. Observers warn that without careful coordination and mutual restraint, the tenuous calm in Gaza risks rapidly unravelling, potentially igniting further violence despite international efforts to broker a lasting peace.
With inputs from agencies