Tensions in the Middle East are once again escalating as Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, issued a stern warning that military operations could resume in Gaza if Hamas fails to fully comply with the conditions of the newly brokered US-backed ceasefire agreement. The development comes just 48 hours after the landmark deal was announced by US President Donald Trump, aimed at halting months of intense conflict in the Gaza Strip.
According to reports from Israeli media, Katz’s office released a statement on Wednesday emphasizing that Israel would not hesitate to restart full-scale combat operations if Hamas defaults on any aspect of the deal. “If Hamas refuses to comply with the agreement, Israel, in coordination with the United States, will resume fighting and act to achieve a total defeat of Hamas, to change the reality in Gaza and achieve all the objectives of the war,” the statement read.
The statement followed Hamas’s handover of two additional bodies of deceased Israeli hostages earlier in the day. The militant group claimed it was unable to recover more remains due to extensive debris and the lack of specialized equipment. The two corpses were reportedly found under rubble in areas heavily bombed during previous Israeli air raids.
Ceasefire deal under pressure
Under the ceasefire terms mediated by President Trump, Hamas agreed to release 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. The agreement was hailed by Washington as a crucial step toward stabilizing the region. However, tensions have persisted as both sides accuse each other of violating the deal’s conditions.
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Prior to Wednesday’s exchange, Hamas had returned the bodies of seven of the 28 known deceased hostages, along with another body later identified as a non-captive. Israeli authorities have accused Hamas of withholding additional remains to gain leverage in negotiations.
In response, Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, insisted that it had fulfilled its obligations. “The remaining corpses require special equipment and major efforts to recover,” the group said, stressing that recovery operations were ongoing under extremely difficult conditions.
Internal political pressure on Netanyahu
The latest standoff has deepened political pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing criticism from both hardliners and moderates within his government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for an immediate halt to humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza if Hamas does not fully comply, particularly with the return of fallen Israeli soldiers’ remains.
Analysts suggest that Netanyahu’s government is trying to strike a balance between maintaining US support for the ceasefire and appeasing domestic factions demanding tougher military responses. The pressure has also increased as protests grow across Israel calling for the swift return of hostages and an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Mounting humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies report worsening conditions in Gaza. The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, urged Israel to open all crossings into Gaza “without delay,” insisting that aid deliveries must be restored immediately to prevent further loss of life. Fletcher, speaking from Cairo, announced plans to visit the Rafah crossing — the only non-Israeli entry point to Gaza — on Thursday.
The Gaza health ministry, run by Hamas, confirmed that Israel had recently returned 45 Palestinian bodies to Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, bringing the total number transferred since the ceasefire to 90. According to the terms of the truce, Israel must return 15 Palestinian bodies for each deceased Israeli hostage.
Reports of violations despite truce
Despite the ceasefire, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported new casualties on Wednesday, claiming three Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces while attempting to reach their homes in Gaza City’s Shujaiya district. The Israeli military defended the action, stating that “several suspects were identified crossing the yellow line and approaching troops,” describing it as a violation of the ceasefire terms.
“Troops removed the threat by striking the suspects,” a military spokesperson said in a brief statement. Independent observers have called for a full investigation into the incident to determine whether it constituted a breach of international humanitarian law.
Uncertain path ahead
The conflict, which reignited after Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has left Gaza in ruins and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. The United Nations declared parts of the enclave to be in famine in August 2025 — a claim Israel strongly rejected.
The Trump-brokered 20-point peace plan outlines steps for rebuilding Gaza, ensuring the return of hostages, and eventually demilitarizing Hamas. However, with ongoing mistrust, fresh violence, and growing internal pressure in Israel, experts fear the fragile ceasefire may collapse before lasting peace can take hold.
As one senior Israeli defence official reportedly told local media, “The next 72 hours will determine whether this ceasefire marks the start of peace — or the countdown to another war.”