Middle East, new escalation after faltering peace: Israel accuses Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire and reports massive raids on Gaza.

The apparent truce between Israelis and Palestinians appears to be on the verge of crumbling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered immediate and blunt raids in the Gaza Strip after Hamas, according to Israel, violated the US-brokered ceasefire agreement. The accusation specifically concerns the postponement of the handover of one of the bodies of the Israeli hostages, scheduled for that evening but then suspended by Hamas itself. The coffin returned yesterday did not contain remains belonging to any of the thirteen hostages still being held. Israeli authorities characterized this as evidence of yet another act of deception by the Islamist movement, which allegedly exploited the hostage issue to break the agreement.

Meanwhile, Palestinian medical sources in Gaza reported that Israeli raids killed at least 18 people, with approximately 50 injured, in an attack conducted from north to south of the Strip in immediate response to accusations of a truce violation. The Gaza government's press office reported an even higher death toll, emphasizing the increasing ceasefire violations and warning the international community about the fragility of the agreement.

Israeli authorities, through the prime minister's office, explained that after security consultations, Netanyahu decided to "immediately carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip." Israel maintains that the truce—in effect following a US-brokered agreement—requires the return of the hostages' bodies and compliance with the agreed conditions, and that this return has not been honored. Hamas, for its part, counterattacks, accusing Israel of being the "first to violate" the ceasefire and of preventing the handover due to raids and border restrictions.

The hostage issue remains at the heart of the matter. Hamas's military wing announced it had "recovered" the bodies of two hostages—identified as Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch—but did not confirm their handover to Israel, which was postponed, according to the movement, due to Israeli violations on the ground. This stalemate fuels resentment in Tel Aviv and increases internal political pressure on the Israeli government, which is accused by members of the right-wing coalition of being too lenient toward Hamas. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the organization's complete destruction, describing the failure to hand over the remains as "proof that the organization is still standing."

Meanwhile, US Vice President J.D. Vance—representing Washington's diplomatic stance—admitted that the current events are "extremely serious," but nevertheless expressed his belief that "peace can hold" unless an uncontrollable escalation occurs. The United States has invested significant resources in maintaining the truce, mediating, and monitoring the hostage-prisoner exchanges, and the breakdown of the agreement risks undermining months of diplomatic efforts.

On the ground, the Israeli offensive is already underway. Israeli sources report that IDF fighters have struck several targets in the Strip, with a heavy concentration in the Gaza City area, near the main hospital in the northern Strip, and in Rafah, where clashes between militants and soldiers had already occurred this morning. Palestinian authorities report dozens of casualties, some of them civilians, while Israeli forces insist the targets are Hamas infrastructure or active militants. The military operations are once again raising strong international criticism, citing the risk of increased civilian casualties and the paralysis of the distribution of humanitarian aid.

The situation is even more delicate after strong tensions emerged over hostage-prisoner exchanges during the ceasefire implemented in early 2025. Israel had previously accused Hamas of failing to honor its commitments, particularly for failing to return soldiers' bodies and for refusing to agree on the terms of the next phase of the truce. Analysts emphasize that Israeli control of the "Yellow Line," the line beyond which Israeli troops withdrew, and border management are key to stability.

In this scenario, the risk is that today's escalation could once again degenerate into large-scale clashes, with serious consequences for the civilian population of the Strip and for regional stability. International diplomacy is already active in attempts to contain the damage: the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, as well as the United Nations, are collaborating in mediation. However, the ability to restore trust between the parties appears more fragile than ever. The future of the truce will depend not only on the will of Israel and Hamas, but also on the effectiveness of the international community in ensuring that the next steps—handover of remains, release of hostages, opening of humanitarian corridors—are verifiably, transparently, and irreversibly respected.