Netanyahu Orders Renewed Strikes on Gaza After IDF Ambushed

The ceasefire in Gaza is on the brink of collapse after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to launch “forceful” strikes against militant targets Tuesday, following a direct attack on IDF troops by terrorists.

“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu has directed the military to immediately carry out forceful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” the prime minister’s office confirmed.

This marks the first major military action by Israel since the historic October 9 ceasefire agreement brokered by President Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas. The deal included a hostage exchange and the establishment of a ceasefire line known as the Yellow Line in Gaza. But that agreement now appears to be unraveling, largely due to Hamas’ refusal to comply.

Hamas had agreed to return all deceased hostages but has failed to do so. Instead, the IDF released video evidence Tuesday showing Hamas militants digging up and reburying human remains in order to stage fake recoveries for media attention.

“Despite claiming difficulty locating the bodies of deceased hostages, Hamas continues to hold and manipulate the remains it refuses to release under the agreement,” the IDF stated.

The tipping point came when IDF soldiers stationed in Rafah came under fire. It’s not yet confirmed whether the ambush was carried out by Hamas or another terror faction operating in the area. The attack followed another deadly incident last week in which two IDF soldiers were killed. In that case, the Israeli military blamed Hamas who, predictably, denied involvement.

In retaliation, the IDF previously struck six kilometers of Hamas’ underground tunnel network, a key part of the terror group’s infrastructure.

Now, Netanyahu is escalating the response expanding Israel’s control zone in Gaza by moving the Yellow Line and ordering more aggressive counter-terror operations.

• Hamas has failed to deliver on its promise to release all hostage remains under the October 9 deal.

• The IDF revealed staged propaganda videos meant to mislead the international community about Hamas' compliance.

• Trump warned last week: “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza… we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”

After Trump’s warning, Hamas retaliated by canceling the return of yet another hostage’s body a move that seems more about defiance than diplomacy.

The Trump administration has made it clear: this is not a time for weakness. Unlike the Biden years of toothless “diplomacy,” Trump’s leadership has created real consequences for terrorist aggression. The administration already has a command center operating in Israel to monitor compliance and coordinate support with U.S. allies without dragging American troops into another Middle Eastern conflict.

This entire situation lays bare the failure of appeasement politics. Hamas is proving, yet again, that it doesn’t operate in good faith. It lies, manipulates, murders, and uses dead hostages for PR.

Netanyahu, with Trump’s full backing, is no longer waiting around.

Keep your eye on this developing story and share this update with anyone who still thinks negotiating with terrorists leads to peace. Subscribe to our newsletter for more no-nonsense updates on global security and American leadership.