CITIZENS NEWS

Israel resumes strikes on Gaza, accusing Hamas of attacking troops and staging fake body recovery

By isabelle // 2025-10-29

• Israeli strikes resume after a collapsed ceasefire, killing hundreds.
• Hamas and Israel blame each other for violating the truce.
• The White House confirms it was consulted and blames Hamas.
• Aid is blocked at the border amid a severe humanitarian crisis.
• The UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire.

The ceasefire in Gaza lies in tatters after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a new wave of military strikes, accusing Hamas of violating the U.S.-brokered truce. This dramatic escalation, which occurred on Tuesday, marks the most serious rupture in the peace process since the truce began earlier this month, plunging the region back into violence and raising serious questions about Israel's true intentions from the start. Netanyahu’s office announced the decision "to immediately carry out powerful strikes" against Gaza. The justification provided was a dual accusation: that Hamas militants opened fire on Israeli troops in the southern city of Rafah and that the group failed to honor its commitment to return the bodies of all deceased hostages. A spokesman for Netanyahu, David Mencer, stated, "Hamas have violated the framework by not returning hostages and attacking our forces." However, Hamas has firmly denied any involvement in an attack on Israeli forces. In a statement, the group maintained its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and instead accused Israel of being the violator. This "he said, she said" dynamic has become a recurring theme, with Israel consistently using such allegations to justify a return to brutal military force.

The staged recovery

Central to Israel’s argument for breaking the truce is a bizarre incident involving the remains of a hostage. Israel claims that Hamas engaged in a "deliberate deception plot" regarding the body of Ofir Tzarfati, who was killed after being kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials presented drone footage that they say shows Hamas operatives staging a fake recovery of Tzarfati's partial remains. According to the Israeli military, the video depicts men carrying a white body bag from a building, burying it in a shallow grave, and then using an excavator to dig it back up in front of Red Cross representatives. Shosh Bedrosian, a spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office, told reporters, "I can confirm to you today that Hamas dug a hole in the ground yesterday, placed the partial remains of Ofir inside of it, covered it back up with dirt, and handed it over to the Red Cross." The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed its personnel were present but stated they were unaware of any staging. "Our team only observed what appeared to be the recovery of remains without prior knowledge of the circumstances leading up to it," the organization said, calling the fake recovery "unacceptable." Hamas dismissed the Israeli claims, accusing Israel of "seeking to fabricate false pretexts in preparation for taking new aggressive steps against our people."

A familiar script

For observers of the long-standing conflict, this latest escalation feels like a familiar script. Israel agrees to a temporary pause, only to later claim a violation by Hamas that necessitates an overwhelming military response. This pattern suggests that the Netanyahu government may have had no real intention of upholding its end of the deal long-term, using minor incidents or manufactured controversies as an exit strategy to resume its military objectives. The human cost of this calculated escalation was immediate. The Hamas-run civil defence agency in Gaza reported that nine people were killed in the initial strikes, including four women, three men, and two children. These are not just numbers; they are human beings whose lives were extinguished in a conflict fueled by political posturing and a blatant disregard for civilian safety. While the White House maintains that the ceasefire is "holding," that claim rings hollow over the sounds of explosions in Gaza. U.S. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged "little skirmishes here and there," a dangerously casual description for military actions that result in the deaths of civilians, including children. This tepid response from the U.S., Israel's primary benefactor, only emboldens the Netanyahu regime.

The horrifying reality

The situation on the ground in Gaza remains catastrophic. The territory's health system has been decimated, with hospitals described as "shells" lacking basic supplies. Aid agencies report that thousands of truckloads of essential supplies are stranded at the borde due to Israeli restrictions. This renewed violence is not an isolated event but part of a devastating continuum. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 68,500 Palestinians have been killed in the two-year conflict, a staggering figure that underscores the disproportionate and destructive nature of Israel's military campaigns. The path forward seems bleak. With Israel demonstrating its willingness to shatter ceasefires and the international community failing to enforce meaningful consequences, the cycle of violence appears endless. The people of Gaza are once again caught in the crossfire, their hopes for peace buried under the rubble of their homes. This is not a path to security; it is a descent into deeper darkness. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com BBC.co.uk NYTimes.com

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