Gaza Ceasefire Nears Collapse: Israel Strikes Gaza Amid Hostage Dispute
- Oct 29, 2025
- 3 min read
This Article Is Available In
A fragile, US-brokered Gaza ceasefire is facing its most severe test after Israeli planes launched "powerful attacks" across the Palestinian territory, killing at least 33 people. Witnesses reported explosions from Gaza City to Khan Younis, with strikes hitting homes, refugee camps, and residential blocks. The violence shatters a truce that had largely held since October 10, bringing a pause to a devastating two-year war.
The Israeli government cited two "blatant violations" by Hamas for the renewed offensive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs office first pointed to an alleged attack by Hamas fighters on Israeli soldiers in a designated Israeli-control zone near Rafah. This was compounded by a second, deeply contentious issue: a breakdown in the agreement to return deceased hostages.
The process of repatriating the dead, a cornerstone of the agreement, has descended into a grim dispute. Israel accused Hamas of a "clear violation" after it handed over a coffin containing the remains of Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body Israeli forces had already recovered in late 2023, not one of the 13 deceased hostages still sought. This act, Israel claims, was not a mistake but a deliberate deception.
Israeli officials supported this claim by releasing drone footage allegedly showing Hamas operatives "staging" the recovery. The footage reportedly shows a body being buried, only to be "discovered" moments later in front of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives. The ICRC later released a statement condemning the "fake recovery," confirming it attended "in good faith" and was unaware of the setup, calling the incident "unacceptable."
Hamas has categorically denied the allegations. The group stated it had "no connection" to the reported shooting incident in Rafah and rejected the Israeli claims about the hostage remains as "baseless allegations." It insists it remains committed to the Gaza ceasefire, framing the deadly Israeli bombardment as the "blatant violation" that breached the agreement. In response to the strikes, Hamas's military wing announced it would postpone the return of another hostage's body.
The escalating violence highlights a stark disconnect with the primary broker of the peace deal, the Trump administration. US Vice President JD Vance maintained that "the ceasefire is holding," dismissing the events as "little skirmishes." While stating the US expects Israel to "respond" to attacks, Vance asserted his belief that "the president's peace is going to hold." This optimism is increasingly at odds with the rising death toll on the ground.
This truce was intended to be the first stage of President Trumpâs 20-point peace plan, ending a conflict that has claimed over 68,500 lives in Gaza. The deal's success hinges on complex, emotionally charged processes, like the return of the final 13 deceased hostages. Hamas negotiators have previously cited the difficulty of locating remains in terrain altered by war, a claim Israel rejects. This fundamental mistrust now threatens to reignite a war that the world, and Washington, had declared paused.
CRUX
The Gaza ceasefire is crumbling under the weight of profound mistrust. While the US administration projects confidence, its "peace plan" is being undone by the realities on the ground. Reciprocal accusations of "blatant violations"âone a disputed military attack, the other a deeply cynical deception involving human remainsâhave provided new justification for violence, killing dozens and proving that the mechanisms for peace are, for now, broken.
The fragile quiet of October has given way to the familiar, tragic rhythm of war.
