What the Israel-Hamas peace deal actually means
USA TODAY’s Washington bureau chief Susan Page analyzes the importance of the Israeli-Hamas peace agreement.
In a major test for the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli officials announced Sunday that they had launched a wave of attacks in the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants allegedly opened fire on Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli military said in a statement on October 19 that it had launched a “series of attacks” against Hamas in southern Gaza, hours after announcing it had targeted militants in the Rafah area in response to attacks on Israeli soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces said the airstrikes targeted Hamas militants as well as tunnels and military facilities.
The moves in Gaza come shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of major “action” against Hamas and accused the terror group of violating a cease-fire agreement that took effect less than two weeks ago.
The Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said on October 19 that at least eight people had been killed in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, according to Reuters.
After the airstrike, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and said it was not aware of any incidents or clashes in Rafah and had not been in contact with the Rafah group since March, Reuters reported.
The airstrikes are the first major escalation in the region since the October 11 cease-fire agreement that led to the release of 20 Israeli hostages still alive after two years in captivity, and more than 1,700 Palestinians held by Israel since the start of the war. A further 250 Palestinian prisoners of war were also released as part of the first phase of a US-brokered peace plan.
In a statement on October 19, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister met with the defense minister and security chiefs and instructed them to take “strong action” against what they called “terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.”
The Israel Defense Forces said in a post to The military said the attack was aimed at “eliminating the threat and dismantling tunnels and military facilities used for terrorist activities” and that attacks on Israeli forces were a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
The reports of Israeli attacks on its troops came a day after the US State Department issued a statement warning that it had received “credible reports” indicating an imminent violation of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.
Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to travel to Israel this week to promote implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace proposal aimed at ending the two-year Israel-Hamas war.
The agreement freed 20 Israeli hostages, but tensions soon ensued when it became clear that the bodies of the 28 dead hostages would not be immediately released. Hamas blamed Israel and its destruction of vast swathes of Gaza for the delay in returning the bodies, and Israel threatened to use humanitarian aid in response.
As of the afternoon of October 18, 12 of the 28 hostages had been handed over to Israel.
This story has been updated with new information.
Contributors: Kim Hjelmgaard, Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml.
