Israel Reinstates Ceasefire After Responding to Hamas Violation

Israel has resumed its enforcement of the ceasefire in Gaza following a wave of retaliatory strikes on Hamas terrorists and infrastructure, the IDF confirmed on Wednesday. The strikes came in response to multiple violations by Hamas, including sniper fire that killed IDF reservist Chief Sgt. First Class Yona Efraim "Efi" Feldbaum and the group’s ongoing refusal to return the remains of deceased Israeli hostages.

"In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, and following a series of strikes… the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire," the military stated. Over 30 Hamas operatives “holding command positions” were targeted in the strikes, according to the IDF and Shin Bet.

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a sharp warning to Hamas’s leadership: “There is and will be no immunity for any of the leadership of the Hamas terror organization neither those wearing suits nor those hiding in tunnels. Whoever raises his hand against IDF soldiers his hand will be cut off.”

The IDF's precision strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure across the Gaza Strip, including near Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, after Hamas gunmen fired on soldiers and attempted to retrieve weapons from a mosque in an IDF-controlled zone. That attempt, which coincided with the release of the final living hostages by Hamas, was thwarted after IDF drones spotted the terrorists crossing the Yellow Line. They were intercepted less than a mile from the Israeli border near Kibbutz Nahal Oz.

A senior Israeli official noted that the initial strike response “neared completion” and that every target on the military’s list had been struck. “We have hit dozens of targets and carried out numerous targeted eliminations of Hamas terrorists,” the official said. “This is our decision.”

Despite the strikes, the Israeli government has opted to resume ceasefire enforcement—an approach aimed at balancing strategic deterrence with a broader diplomatic framework led by the U.S. administration. President Donald Trump, while affirming support for the ceasefire’s continuation, made it clear that Israeli military responses to Hamas aggression are both justified and necessary.

The trigger for the renewed strikes was the killing of Feldbaum, a combat engineer and father of five from Zayit Raanan in the Binyamin region. His death marked yet another painful reminder of the fragility of the ceasefire and the ever-present dangers Israeli soldiers face even during declared periods of calm.

Israel’s actions over the past 48 hours reinforce a central tenet of its national security policy: ceasefires are not a license for terrorists to regroup. They are contingent upon full compliance, particularly regarding hostage return and a cessation of attacks on IDF forces.

With Hamas continuing to test Israel’s red lines, the message from Jerusalem is unmistakable any act of aggression will be met with swift and decisive force. But once deterrence is restored, Israel remains committed to the terms of the ceasefire and the hope for a more stable future.

Israel stands watchful, strong, and unshaken. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates from the frontlines.