Israel says it has begun resuming enforcement of the US-brokered ceasefire after launching a series of air strikes on southern Gaza that have killed at least 44 people.
Israel's military earlier Sunday said its troops came under fire from Hamas militants in southern Gaza, and later said two soldiers were killed there.
It said it then it struck dozens of what it called Hamas targets. Health officials said at least 44 Palestinians were killed across Gaza, including children.
An Israeli security official said that the transfer of aid into Gaza has been halted until further notice, following what he described as Hamas' blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas said it remained committed to the ceasefire agreement, was unaware of clashes in Rafah, and had not been in contact with groups there since March.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to respond forcefully to what he described as Hamas' violations of the ceasefire.
Key Points
- Israel suspends aid and launches fresh wave of attacks on Gaza
- Gaza death toll rises to 44
- Israeli military said it has begun resuming enforcement of the Gaza ceasefire
- Netanyahu pays tribute to two soldiers killed in Gaza
Netanyahu pays tribute to two soldiers killed in Gaza
21:05 , Joe MiddletonBenjamin Netanyahu has paid tribute to the two soldiers killed in Gaza earlier today.
In a post on X, he confirmed that Major Yaniv Kola and Sgt Itay Yavetz died in Rafah.
He added that they fought “with valour” to protect Israel’s security.
בשם כל עם ישראל, רעייתי ואני שולחים את תנחומינו מעומק הלב למשפחותיהם של לוחמי חטיבת הנח״ל - רס״ן יניב קולא ז״ל וסמ״ר איתי יעבץ ז״ל, שנפלו בתקרית הקשה ברפיח.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 19, 2025
אני שולח גם איחולי החלמה מהירה לפצועינו באותה תקרית.
יניב ואיתי ז״ל נלחמו בעוז מול מרצחי החמאס כדי לשמור על ביטחון ישראל.…
What are expected to be the next stages of the ceasefire?
20:40 , Joe MiddletonThe next stages are expected to focus on disarming Hamas, Israeli withdrawal from additional areas it controls in Gaza, and future governance of the devastated territory.
The U.S. plan proposes the establishment of an internationally backed authority to it.Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem said late Saturday that the group has begun discussions to "solidify its positions."
He reiterated that Hamas won't be part of the ruling authority in a postwar Gaza, and called for the prompt establishment of a body of Palestinian technocrats to run day-to-day affairs.
For now, "government agencies in Gaza continue to perform their duties, as the (power) vacuum is very dangerous," he said.
What is the situation with the Rafah crossing?
20:29 , Joe MiddletonThe Rafah crossing has largely been shut since May 2024. The ceasefire deal also includes the ramping up of aid to Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people were determined in August to be affected by famine, according to the IPC global hunger monitor.
The crossing has in previous ceasefires functioned as a key conduit for humanitarian aid to flow into the enclave.
Although the flow of aid through another crossing had, until Sunday's decision to halt aid, increased significantly since the ceasefire began, the United Nations says far more is needed.
Gaza death toll rises to 44
19:57 , Joe MiddletonPalestinian health officials have told The Independent that the death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to 44.
The majority of deaths were reported at the Al-Awda Hospital.
Breaking News
19:50 , Joe MiddletonThe Israeli military said it had begun resuming enforcement of the Gaza ceasefire after it was "violated" by Hamas.
It signals an end to strikes on the enclave that it said were carried out in response to earlier attacks on its forces on Sunday.
Pictured: Israeli air strikes on southern Gaza
19:48 , Joe Middleton
Where did the Israeli strikes hit?
19:43 , Joe MiddletonShortly before sunset, Israel's military said it had begun a series of air strikes in southern Gaza against what it called Hamas targets.
It also said its forces struck "terrorists" approaching troops in Beit Lahiya in the north.
An Israeli air strike on a makeshift coffee house in Zawaida town in central Gaza killed at least six Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Another strike killed at least two people near the Al-Ahly football club in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The strike hit a tent and wounded eight others, said Al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties.
The hospital said it also received the bodies of four people killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Nuseirat, along with the body of one person killed in a strike at a charging point west of Nuseirat.
Another strike hit a tent in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis in the south, killing at least four people, including a woman and two children, according to Nasser Hospital.
The strike in Beit Lahiya killed two men, according to Shifa hospital.
Dispute over bodies putting strain on ceasefire
19:39 , Joe MiddletonThe new ceasefire took effect on October 10, halting two years of war, but the Israeli government and Hamas have been accusing each other of violations of the ceasefire for days.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the "yellow line" to where Israeli forces had pulled back under the ceasefire agreement would be physically marked and that any violation of the ceasefire or attempt to cross the line would be met with fire.
Hamas detailed what it said was a series of violations by Israel that it says have left 46 people dead and stopped essential supplies from reaching the enclave.
On Saturday, Israel said the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which had been expected to be reopened this week, would remain closed and that its reopening would depend on Hamas fulfilling its obligations under the ceasefire.
Israel says Hamas is being too slow in handing over bodies of deceased hostages. Hamas last week released all 20 living hostages it had been holding and in the following days has handed over 12 of the 28 deceased captives.
Israel suspends aid and launches fresh wave of attacks on Gaza
19:38 , Joe MiddletonIsrael has suspended the supply of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and launched a fresh wave of strikes after accusing Hamas of breaching a US-brokered ceasefire.
An Israeli official told Sky News that the transfer of aid would be halted “until further notice” following a “blatant violation of the agreement” by Hamas.
It came after residents in Gaza and local health authorities said that Israeli airstrikes and tank fire across the enclave had killed at least 11 people. An Israeli military official said that further strikes against Hamas targets may still be launched following at least three attacks on troops on Sunday.
