Following the incident in southern Gaza in which Hamas terrorists attacked an IDF unit, the visits of US Special Envoy Witkoff today and Vice President Vance on Tuesday have taken on increased urgency.
As previously reported, the American officials are arriving partly to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire and to ensure continued implementation of US President Donald Trump's plan. But now, the mission has become significantly more critical. The Americans aim to avoid any escalation or deterioration that could derail the agreements reached thus far, and have therefore demanded immediate answers from Hamas, via mediators, regarding the severe violation.
At the same time, efforts are also underway between Washington and Jerusalem to de-escalate tensions and guide Israel toward a measured response that does not "break the rules of the game."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement saying he had held consultations with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and senior security officials, and instructed them to "act forcefully against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip."
What does "act forcefully" actually mean? That will become clear in the coming hours. Meanwhile, reports from Gaza indicate several fatalities from Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire. These actions are expected to be accompanied by halting some steps tied to the ceasefire, including reopening the Rafah crossing and the entry of non-humanitarian supplies.
In addition to his meetings in Israel, Special Envoy Witkoff is also expected to meet with senior Egyptian officials to help contain the situation. According to an Arab diplomatic source, Egypt has informed the Americans that it is pressuring Hamas to clarify the nature of the incident. Cairo believes the event was a localized episode, asserting that Hamas has no interest in collapsing the ceasefire.
The US has already demanded clarification from Hamas via intermediaries, following a warning issued yesterday by the State Department. That warning stated that Washington had reliable intelligence indicating Hamas intended to violate the ceasefire with a "planned attack" on Gaza residents. The alert referred to Hamas attacks on militias and clans that had opposed the terrorist organization. Hamas rejected the claim, stating it was merely cracking down on "disturbers of the peace."
This morning's attack, however, marks a far more serious escalation. It targeted an IDF unit operating in an area under Israeli control, and therefore constitutes a clear and direct violation of the ceasefire deal.
