Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza hours after ceasefire agreement

In the early hours of October 10, 2025, Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes in southern Gaza shortly after a ceasefire was supposed to take effect. Reports indicate that strikes occurred in the center of Khan Younis around 5:45 a.m. local time, with artillery shelling and gunfire also being heard near the Netzarim corridor. Eyewitnesses described airstrikes and artillery action in neighborhoods of Gaza City, particularly Al-Sabra and Tal Al-Hawa, around this time. The offensive came hours after the Israeli government approved a ceasefire plan, which was expected to conclude a two-year-long conflict with Hamas. Despite the Cabinet sanctioning this plan, it remained ambiguous whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to halt operations. Newsweek reached out to the IDF for further clarification on this. The renewed bombing led to immediate concerns regarding the durability of the recently signed ceasefire, which was celebrated by supporters in the streets. Local residents and reports indicated persistent bombardment in various locations post-announcement, raising doubts whether a genuine cessation of hostilities was being observed. Suha Shaath, a local pharmacist, highlighted ongoing airstrikes since the ceasefire proclamation. Observations from correspondents noted that while airstrikes occurred, the IDF began troop withdrawal in the Gaza Strip, adhering to previously agreed deployment lines with Hamas. Nevertheless, the situation remains precarious with additional bombings reported in Khan Younis and Gaza City as the region navigates through the tumultuous aftermath of the latest ceasefire efforts. This escalation highlights the fragile state of peace negotiations and the extensive challenges faced in disentangling a two-year conflict.