Palestinians transport an injured man following what, in accordance with medics, was an Israeli strike, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Oct. 19, 2025.
Mahmoud Issa | Reuters
Israel on Sunday struck targets within the southern Gaza Strip after it stated its troops got here underneath fireplace from Hamas militants, within the first main take a look at of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire meant to halt greater than two years of battle.
Members of the Palestinian group used an RPG and Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery, the navy stated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with Israel’s safety heads and directed the navy to take “sturdy motion” in opposition to any ceasefire violations, however didn’t threaten to return to battle.
Hamas stated that it was not related to any clashes in Rafah in southern Gaza.
The strikes got here as Israel recognized the stays of two hostages launched by Hamas in a single day, and the Palestinian group stated talks to launch the second part of ceasefire negotiations have begun.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated the our bodies belonged to Ronen Engel, a father of three from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, a Thai agricultural employee killed at Kibbutz Be’eri.
Each have been believed to have been killed through the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and their our bodies have been taken to Gaza. Engel’s spouse, Karina, and two of his three youngsters have been kidnapped and launched in a ceasefire in November 2023.
In the meantime, Israel threatened to maintain the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed “till additional discover.” The assertion by Netanyahu’s workplace stated reopening Rafah would rely on how Hamas fulfills its ceasefire function of returning the stays of all 28 deceased hostages.
Previously week, Hamas has handed over the stays of 13 our bodies, 12 of which have been recognized as hostages. Israel stated one of many our bodies launched didn’t belong to a hostage.
Israel has launched 150 our bodies of Palestinians again to Gaza, together with 15 on Sunday, in accordance with the Gaza Well being Ministry, a part of the Hamas-run authorities. Israel has neither recognized the our bodies nor stated how they died. The ministry has posted photographs of dozens of our bodies on its web site to assist households and family members trying to find their family members, however the our bodies have been decomposed, blackened and a few have been lacking limbs and tooth. Solely 25 our bodies have been recognized, the Well being Ministry stated.
After Israel and Hamas exchanged 20 residing hostages for greater than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, the handover of the stays of deceased hostages and prisoners stays a serious subject within the first stage of the ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. A serious scale-up of support, together with the opening of the Rafah border crossing, for humanitarian support and folks getting into or leaving Gaza, is the opposite central subject.
The subsequent levels of the ceasefire will give attention to disarming Hamas, Israeli withdrawal from extra areas it controls in Gaza, and future governance of the devastated territory.
Second part
The Israeli navy stated on Sunday that militants shot at troops within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, within the Israeli-controlled areas, in accordance with the agreed-upon ceasefire traces. No accidents have been reported. A senior Hamas official denied that Hamas was concerned. Hamas and Israel have every accused one another of violating the delicate ceasefire.
In the meantime, Hamas says that talks with mediators to start out the second part of the ceasefire have begun.
Hazem Kassem, a Hamas spokesman, stated in an announcement late Saturday that the second part of negotiations “requires nationwide consensus.” He additionally stated Hamas has begun discussions to “solidify its positions,” with out offering additional particulars.
In line with Trump’s plan, the negotiations will embrace disarming Hamas and the institution of an internationally backed authority to run the embattled Gaza Strip.
Kassem reiterated that the group will not be a part of the ruling authority in a postwar Gaza. Hamas-run authorities our bodies within the Gaza Strip are working day-to-day affairs to keep away from an influence void, he stated.
“Authorities companies in Gaza proceed to carry out their duties, because the vacuum may be very harmful, and this may proceed till an administrative committee is fashioned and agreed upon by all Palestinian factions,” he stated.
Kassem known as for a Group Help Committee, a physique of Palestinian technocrats, to run the day-to-day affairs, to be established promptly.
Rafah border crossing
Israel did not open the Rafah border crossing on Sunday, in an try and stress Hamas to return extra hostages’ our bodies. Hamas says it wants particular tools to find the our bodies of extra hostages, however Israel believes Hamas has entry to extra our bodies than it has returned.
The Rafah crossing was the one one not managed by Israel earlier than the battle. It has been closed since Might 2024, when Israel took management of the Gaza facet. A totally reopened crossing would make it simpler for Palestinians to hunt medical therapy, journey or go to household in Egypt, dwelling to tens of 1000’s of Palestinians.
On Sunday, the Palestinian Authority’s Inside Ministry in Ramallah introduced procedures for Palestinians wishing to go away or enter Gaza by way of the Rafah crossing. For many who need to depart Gaza, Palestinian Embassy workers from Cairo shall be on the crossing to subject short-term journey paperwork that enable entry into Egypt. Palestinians who want to enter the Gaza Strip might want to apply on the embassy in Cairo for related entry paperwork.
The Israel-Hamas battle has killed greater than 68,000 Palestinians, in accordance with the Well being Ministry, which is a part of the Hamas-run authorities within the territory. Its figures are seen as a dependable estimate of wartime deaths by U.N. companies and plenty of unbiased consultants. Israel has disputed them with out offering its personal toll.
1000’s extra persons are lacking, in accordance with the Pink Cross.
Hamas-led militants killed round 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and kidnapped 251 individuals within the assault that sparked the battle.
Hamas rejects U.S. declare
The group rejected on Sunday a declare by the U.S. State Division that stated it had credible reviews of an imminent deliberate assault by Hamas in opposition to residents of Gaza.
“This deliberate assault in opposition to Palestinian civilians would represent a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire settlement and undermine the numerous progress achieved by way of mediation efforts,” the U.S. State Division stated in an announcement Saturday.
Hamas known as the declare “false allegations,” and accused Israel of supporting armed teams working in Israeli-controlled areas. Hamas urged the U.S. administration to stress Israel to cease supporting the gangs and “offering them a secure haven.”
Hamas-led fighters clashed with at the very least two armed teams in jap Gaza Metropolis that the group alleges are concerned in looting support and collaborating with Israel. They executed a handful of suspects in public, in extensively condemned road killings.
The Inside Ministry, a part of the Hamas-run authorities, says its forces have been working to revive regulation and order throughout areas Israel’s navy withdrew from following the ceasefire.