Gaza Ceasefire

• The Gaza ceasefire resumed at 10 a.m. yesterday, following brief Israeli military activity in response to numerous Hamas violations of the agreement, including:
  • Terrorists launched an attack on an IDF position, killing Israeli soldier Yona Efraim (Efi) Feldbaum, 37, a father of five;
  • The failure by Hamas to return all 28 bodies stipulated in the deal;
  • Hamas staged a “discovery” of a hostage’s body, which actually turned out to be additional remains from a body recovered by Israeli forces in 2023 (see below).
  • Hamas then reneged on a promise to return an additional hostage’s body that day, accusing Israel of violating the agreement.
  • Israel’s military response was heavy, but limited in time, as a result of US pressure to keep the ceasefire alive, and also driven by efforts to recover the remaining 13 hostage bodies.
• Nonetheless, during the brief return to fighting, the IDF was able to attack a large terror tunnel. The Hamas underground position had previously remained untouched by Israel for fear that it held live hostages.
• Israel and Hamas each now control roughly half of the area of Gaza, divided by the “Yellow Line.”
• The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have not resumed firing at Israel since the ceasefire took effect.