Isreal blamed Hamas for a ceasefire violation, with the renewed clashes casting doubt on the next phase of the peace plan.
Day: October 20, 2025
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US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly heading to Israel on Monday amid fears over ceasefire
Welcome to our live coverage of the latest news on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli forces launched a wave of airstrikes on Gaza and an Israeli security official said the transfer of aid into the territory was halted “until further notice” as the fragile ceasefire faced its first big test on Sunday.
Hamas’s armed wing said it was unaware of clashes in Rafah and had not been in contact with groups there since March, also saying it remained committed to the truce agreement.
Israel said Hamas’s attack killed two of its soldiers – the first Israeli fatalities since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October.
Hamas claimed to have located the body of another Israeli hostage, saying it intended to hand over the remains to Israel if “field conditions allow”. The militant group warned that continued airstrikes and shelling would make such transfers impossible.
US president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected to travel to Israel on Monday, an Israeli official and a US official said. Vice-president JD Vance said on Sunday that he might visit Israel in the coming days, while saying about the ceasefire: “There’s going to be fits and starts.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the military to take “strong action” against any ceasefire violations but didn’t threaten to return to war.
“Round-the-clock” contacts were under way to de-escalate the situation as regional powers scramble to shore up the ceasefire, a senior Egyptian official said.