Netanyahu Threatens the Tenuous Ceasefire by Ordering Powerful Strikes” on Gaza

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire that started on October 10 is on the verge of breaking down, and a return to full-scale conflict is looming as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare “powerful strikes” in Gaza on Tuesday and Hamas declared it would postpone returning a hostage’s body.

Israel issued the directive after claiming that Hamas had failed to swiftly return all hostage remains, committing a “clear violation” of the ceasefire. Hamas responded directly, saying it would now postpone the transfer of a body it had retrieved.

This escalation comes after Israeli troops were shot at in Rafah and after a previous flare-up on October 19, when two Israeli soldiers were killed and retaliatory attacks followed, killing around 40 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Israel accuses Hamas of purposeful delay, while Hamas says it is having difficulty finding bodies among Gaza’s destruction.

This problem puts the upcoming stages of the truce in jeopardy, as 13 bodies remain in Gaza. Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies in return for 15 deceased hostages that Hamas has returned since the ceasefire started. In the first round, about 2,000 Palestinian inmates were exchanged for 20 living hostages.

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