Gaza Ceasefire Tested as IDF Strikes Tunnel Operatives in Khan Younis

The fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza is facing its most significant test yet, with the Israeli military reporting two separate armed confrontations with terror operatives emerging from tunnels in southern Gaza on Saturday. In one of the incidents, the IDF launched a deadly airstrike, a move it claims was defensive and permissible “in accordance with the deal.”
The most serious clash occurred in Khan Younis, a strategic area in the southern Gaza Strip where Israeli forces are maintaining a significant security presence as part of the ceasefire agreement. According to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement, a group of armed terror operatives was identified emerging from a tunnel shaft and “approached troops,” who were operating in the area.
The military said the operatives “posed an imminent threat” to the soldiers, prompting an immediate response. An IDF airstrike was called in, targeting and striking the group. While the number of operatives killed was not specified, the IDF was adamant that the strike was not a violation of the ceasefire, which mandates a halt to all offensive operations. “The forces targeted the operatives in accordance with the deal, after they had posed a threat,” the military spokesperson stated, highlighting that the rules of engagement allow for defensive actions against direct and immediate threats.
In a second, separate incident that further underscores the volatility on the ground, the IDF said another group of terror operatives emerged from a tunnel in the Rafah area, which also remains under Israeli security control. The operatives reportedly opened fire on Israeli troops stationed nearby. The soldiers returned fire, and the attackers retreated. The IDF confirmed that no Israeli soldiers were injured in the exchange.
These armed encounters are the first major violations of the ceasefire since it was signed in a celebrated summit in Egypt just five days ago. They come at the worst possible moment, as the entire peace process is already stalled and at risk of collapse. “Phase Two” of the agreement—which includes the establishment of a new Palestinian government for Gaza and a large-scale release of Palestinian prisoners—is on hold because Hamas has so far failed to return the remains of at least 18 slain Israeli hostages, a key precondition.
The clashes expose the fundamental flaw in the deal: Israeli troops and armed Palestinian factions remain in close proximity, particularly in the vast “security zones” Israel is controlling. Furthermore, they give weight to Israel’s primary concern that Hamas has no intention of disarming, a point the group’s leaders have publicly confirmed. The continued presence of armed operatives in tunnels, who are willing to engage Israeli forces, reinforces Israel’s justification for maintaining a long-term, heavy security presence in the Strip, which in turn creates more friction.
The successful release of 20 living hostages on Monday created a wave of global optimism, but these new clashes threaten to shatter it, putting immense pressure on U.Insurgents.