Israel will resume ceasefire despite deadly attack on IDF soldiers in Rafah

Israel added that it would continue to observe the cease-fire terms but “respond forcefully to any violation.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel announced Sunday it would resume its cease-fire in Gaza just hours after a deadly attack by Hamas terrorists killed two soldiers and wounded three others in Rafah.

The Israel Defense Forces said it retaliated with a series of airstrikes before reestablishing the truce.

“In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, and after a series of significant strikes, the IDF has begun renewed enforcement of the cease-fire following its violation by the Hamas terror organization,” the army said in a statement.

It added that it would continue to observe the cease-fire terms but “respond forcefully to any violation.”

The attack occurred around 10:30 a.m. in southeastern Rafah, near Salah a-Din Road, when terrorists emerged from a tunnel and fired rocket-propelled grenades at an excavator operating in the area. Maj. Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sgt. Itay Yavetz, 21, both from the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion and residents of Modi’in, were killed instantly. Three others were wounded. The area remains under Israeli control as part of the ongoing cease-fire arrangement.

The IDF said its forces launched immediate retaliatory strikes against Hamas targets across southern Gaza before halting fire in line with government directives.

The renewed cease-fire comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by Washington to stabilize the situation and advance its broader Gaza framework.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner are set to arrive in Israel on Monday, followed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. A U.S. official said the three will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli leaders to “further advance Washington’s Gaza cease-fire framework.”

Despite the announcement of the renewed cease-fire, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the Rafah attack was a “blatant violation” of the cease-fire and that the military would be “prepared for any scenario.”

“IDF troops are required to remain on high alert. We are prepared and preparing for any scenario,” he said at a handover ceremony for the president’s military secretary.

“We will continue to act with determination to safeguard the security interests of the State of Israel,” Zamir added.

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