Mariam Lanji Msah, 29th October 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that he has ordered the military to immediately carry out “powerful strikes” in the Gaza Strip, sharply escalating tensions just hours after a fragile ceasefire was challenged.
The order came in response to an incident in southern Gaza, where Israel said Hamas forces opened fire on its troops. This exchange of fire threatens to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts and shatter a period of relative calm.
The situation had already been inflamed earlier in the day over the issue of hostage remains. Hamas returned a set of remains that Israel confirmed belonged to a hostage recovered earlier in the conflict. While the handover of any remains is a sensitive issue, Netanyahu’s office condemned the partial return as a “clear violation” of the existing ceasefire agreement.
“The agreement is explicit: Hamas is required to return all Israeli hostage remains as soon as possible. Their failure to do so is a breach of their commitments,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s office read.
According to Israeli authorities, the bodies of 13 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Hamas had stated earlier on Tuesday that it recovered another body and planned to hand it over on Tuesday evening, but this did not prevent the rapid deterioration of the situation.
The Israeli military has confirmed that operations are now underway. The order for “powerful strikes” signals a potential return to the intense bombardment that characterized the earlier stages of the war, raising fears of a significant new wave of violence in the region.
