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Tel Aviv: Israeli planes have launched strikes on Gaza City, news agency Reuters reported citing eyewitnesses. This comes moments after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered the military to carry out intense strikes on the Gaza Strip, after accusing Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire. “Following security consultations, prime minister Netanyahu instructed the military to immediately carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” a statement from his office said. What Led Netanyahu To Order Powerful Strike on Gaza? The order from Benjamin Netanyahu follows heightened tensions, as Israel reported Hamas firing on its forces in southern Gaza and after Hamas returned a set of remains that Israel said belonged to a hostage recovered earlier in the war. Israeli viewed these actions by Hamas as clear breaches of the truce agreement. In a message posted on X, Israel's Prime Minister's Office said, "Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu has directed the military to immediately carry out forceful strikes in the Gaza Strip." Netanyahu called the return a "clear violation" of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return all Israeli hostage remains as soon as possible. When Was Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Announced? The United States-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire was officially announced on October 9, 2025. The 20-point peace plan was first unveiled by US President Donald Trump. Weeks after the peace plan was announced, in a historic moment, US President Donald Trump signed it in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, along with other member countries that played a part in it. However, Netanyahu did not attend the Gaza Peace Summit. Key Highlights of the Gaza Peace Plan An immediate halt to fighting between Israel and Hamas.Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.Israel to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.Rebuilding Gaza through increased humanitarian aid. Israel To Take Over More Gazan Territory, Say Reports After Netanyahu ordered a powerful strike on Gaza on Tuesday, The Times of Israel quoted Hebrew media reports that the Israeli Prime Minister has decided to expand the territory under IDF control in the Gaza Strip after repeated Hamas violations of the ceasefire agreement. There are still 13 bodies of hostages in Gaza. Hamas said Tuesday it has recovered the body of a hostage that it plans to hand over this evening. An Associated Press videographer in Khan Younis witnessed what appeared to be a white body bag being carried out from a tunnel by several men, including some masked militants, and then transported into an ambulance. It was not immediately clear what was in the bag. Is Hamas’ Slow Handover of Hostages’ Bodies a Threat to Ceasefire? The slow return of hostages' bodies is posing a challenge to implementing the next stages of the ceasefire, which will address even knottier issues, such as the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international security force in Gaza and deciding who will govern the territory. Hamas has said it is struggling to locate the bodies amid the vast destruction in Gaza, while Israel has accused the militant group of purposely delaying their return. Over the weekend, Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment to help search for the bodies of the remaining hostages. That work continued Tuesday in Khan Younis and Nuseirat. This is the second time since the ceasefire began on October 10 that remains turned over by Hamas have been problematic. Israel said one of the bodies Hamas released in the first week of the ceasefire belonged to an unidentified Palestinian. During a previous ceasefire in February 2025, Hamas said it handed over the bodies of three hostages, Shiri Bibas and her two sons, but testing showed that one of the bodies returned was identified as a Palestinian woman. Shiri Bibas’ body was returned a day later. With inputs from AP
