Israel kills 9 in new Gaza attacks after claiming Hamas breached truce

Israeli Strikes Shatter Fragile Gaza Ceasefire, Killing at Least Nine
Published October 28, 2025

Multiple Israeli airstrikes and shelling have rocked Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis, killing at least nine Palestinians and injuring more than a dozen others, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faces its most serious test yet.

The renewed attacks come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to “carry out powerful strikes,” accusing Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire by allegedly targeting Israeli soldiers and mishandling the return of hostages’ remains.

Heavy bombardment across Gaza

Hospital sources told Al Jazeera that four people were killed in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City and five others in Khan Younis in the south. Explosions and gunfire were also reported in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said a missile struck an area behind al-Shifa Hospital, sparking panic among medical staff and patients. “Eyewitnesses described the strike as massive… we could hear the explosion from about 20 minutes away,” he said.

US says ceasefire “still holding”

Despite the escalation, US Vice President JD Vance told reporters that the ceasefire remained intact, downplaying the strikes as “small skirmishes.” “We expect the Israelis are going to respond, but I think the president’s peace is going to hold despite that,” he said.

US officials confirmed that Israel had notified Washington before carrying out the latest strikes, according to The Associated Press.

Hamas denies violating deal

Hamas’s political bureau member Suhail al-Hindi rejected Israel’s claims, insisting the group remains committed to the ceasefire agreed in Sharm el-Sheikh under the auspices of President Donald Trump.

“We have made every effort possible to recover the bodies [of hostages], and the occupation bears full responsibility for any delay,” al-Hindi told Al Jazeera. Hamas also denied involvement in the reported shooting attack in Rafah that Israel cited as justification for the air raids.

In a statement on Telegram, Hamas condemned the bombings as “a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement”, accusing Israel of attempting to sabotage the truce through continued blockades and deadly attacks.

Rising tensions threaten to unravel deal

The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, said it would delay the handover of another captive’s body due to Israel’s “violations,” warning that further escalation could hinder ongoing recovery operations.

Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right ministers called for harsher retaliation. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the re-arrest of Palestinians freed in prisoner swaps, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded the “complete destruction” of Hamas.

Analysts warn of renewed conflict

Analysts fear the latest developments could collapse the already fragile ceasefire.

“From the very start, Netanyahu has been trying to find any excuse to resume the assault on Gaza,” said Muhammad Shehada of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “This is another attempt to test the limits of the truce and push for a return to full-scale war.”

However, Israeli political analyst Ori Goldberg told Al Jazeera that the truce may still hold due to the heavy investment of the US and regional partners. “The idea that all of this will collapse over a single violation is unlikely,” he said.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim added from Doha that Israel appeared to be “searching for incidents to justify selective attacks,” even as Washington pressures both sides to uphold the ceasefire.

As tensions soar, civilians in Gaza remain trapped between fragile diplomacy and the constant threat of renewed war.

Source Video: Fox News