The official spoke on situation of anonymity pending a proper announcement on the halt in support, slightly over per week for the reason that begin of the U.S.-proposed ceasefire geared toward ending two years of struggle.
Israel’s navy earlier on Sunday (October 19, 2025) mentioned its troops got here underneath fireplace from Hamas militants in southern Gaza, and later mentioned two troopers had been killed there.
Israel’s navy mentioned then it struck dozens of what it referred to as Hamas targets. Health officers mentioned a minimum of 29 Palestinians had been killed throughout Gaza, together with youngsters.
A senior Egyptian official concerned within the ceasefire negotiations mentioned “round the clock” contacts had been underway to deescalate the scenario. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he wasn’t licensed to talk to reporters.
There was no quick U.S. remark.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the navy to take “sturdy motion” towards any ceasefire violations however did not threaten to return to struggle.
Israel’s navy mentioned militants had fired at troops in areas of Rafah metropolis which can be Israeli-controlled in line with agreed-upon ceasefire strains.
Hamas, which continued to accuse Israel of a number of ceasefire violations, mentioned communication with its remaining models in Rafah had been lower off for months and “we’re not answerable for any incidents occurring in these areas.”
Palestinians shortly feared the return of struggle.
“It might be a nightmare,” mentioned Mahmoud Hashim, a father of 5 from Gaza City, who appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and different mediators to forestall the ceasefire’s collapse.
An Israeli airstrike on a makeshift coffeehouse in Zawaida city in central Gaza killed a minimum of six Palestinians, in line with Gaza’s Health Ministry, a part of the Hamas-run authorities.
Another strike killed a minimum of two individuals close to the Al-Ahly soccer membership within the Nuseirat refugee camp, the ministry mentioned. The strike hit a tent and wounded eight others, mentioned Al-Awda Hospital, which acquired the casualties.
The hospital mentioned it additionally acquired the our bodies of 4 individuals killed in a strike on a college sheltering displaced households in Nuseirat. Six others had been killed in a tent in Nuseirat, one killed at a charging level west of Nuseirat and 4 killed at a home in Bureij camp.
Another strike hit a tent within the Muwasi space of Khan Younis within the south, killing a minimum of 4 individuals, together with a lady and two youngsters, in line with Nasser Hospital.
A strike in Beit Lahiya within the north killed two males, in line with Shifa hospital.
Israel recognized the stays of two hostages launched by Hamas in a single day.
Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned the our bodies belonged to Ronen Engel, a father from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, a Thai agricultural employee from Kibbutz Be’eri.
Both had been believed to have been killed through the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the struggle. Engel’s spouse, Karina, and two of his three youngsters had been kidnapped and launched in a ceasefire in November 2023.
Hamas prior to now week has handed over the stays of 12 hostages.
Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, mentioned that it discovered the physique of a hostage and would return it on Sunday “if circumstances within the area” allowed. It warned that any escalation by Israel would hamper search efforts.
Israel on Saturday pressed Hamas to satisfy its ceasefire position of returning the stays of all 28 deceased hostages, saying the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would keep closed “till additional discover.”
Hamas says the struggle’s devastation and Israeli navy management of sure areas of Gaza have slowed the handover. Israel believes Hamas has entry to extra our bodies than it has returned.
Israel has launched 150 our bodies of Palestinians again to Gaza, together with 15 on Sunday, in line with Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel has neither recognized the our bodies nor mentioned how they died. The ministry posts photographs of our bodies on its web site to assist households trying to find family members. Some are decomposed and blackened. Some are lacking limbs and tooth.
Only 25 our bodies have been recognized, the Health Ministry mentioned.
Israel and Hamas earlier exchanged 20 residing hostages for greater than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
A Hamas delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo to observe up the implementation of the ceasefire cope with mediators and different Palestinian teams, Hamas mentioned in an announcement.
The subsequent phases are anticipated to deal with disarming Hamas, Israeli withdrawal from extra areas it controls in Gaza, and future governance of the devastated territory.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem mentioned late Saturday that the second section of negotiations “requires nationwide consensus.” He mentioned Hamas has begun discussions to “solidify its positions.”
The U.S. plan proposes the institution of an internationally backed authority to run Gaza.
Kassem reiterated that Hamas received’t be a part of the ruling authority in a postwar Gaza. He referred to as for the immediate institution of a physique of Palestinian technocrats to run day-to-day affairs.
For now, “authorities businesses in Gaza proceed to carry out their duties, because the (energy) vacuum may be very harmful,” he mentioned.
The Rafah crossing was the one one not managed by Israel earlier than the struggle. It has been closed since May 2024, when Israel took management of the Gaza facet.
A totally reopened crossing would make it simpler for Palestinians to hunt medical remedy, journey or go to household in Egypt, residence to tens of hundreds of Palestinians.
On Sunday, the Palestinian Authority’s Interior Ministry in Ramallah introduced procedures for Palestinians wishing to depart or enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing. For those that wish to go away, Palestinian Embassy workers from Cairo might be on the crossing to difficulty momentary journey paperwork for entry into Egypt. Palestinians who want to enter Gaza might want to apply on the embassy.
The Israel-Hamas struggle has killed greater than 68,000 Palestinians, in line with Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its depend. The ministry maintains detailed casualty data which can be seen as typically dependable by U.N. businesses and impartial consultants. Israel has disputed them with out offering its personal toll.
Thousands extra individuals are lacking, in line with the Red Cross.
Hamas-led militants killed round 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, and kidnapped 251 individuals within the assault that sparked the struggle.
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