On the 19th, the Israel Defense Forces launched attacks on multiple locations in the Rafah area in southern Gaza, citing Hamas' violation of the ceasefire agreement, and later stated that the ceasefire agreement would be re-implemented. According to the Gaza Civil Defense Department, the Israeli attacks caused over 20 deaths and multiple injuries.
Agence France-Presse reported that the Israeli military said that night in a statement: "Following instructions from the political leadership and a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas' violations, the Israel Defense Forces have begun to resume the ceasefire."
"The Israel Defense Forces will continue to maintain the ceasefire agreement and take firm action against any violations."
The Israeli military stated that after armed militants fired anti-tank missiles and opened fire on Israeli troops, resulting in soldiers' deaths, the military launched attacks on multiple Hamas targets in Gaza, including field commanders, gunmen, a tunnel, and several weapons depots.
Hamas' armed wing said it still committed to abiding by the ceasefire agreement, claiming to be unaware of the conflict in the Rafah area and that since March of this year it has not made contact with any organizations in the area.
The Israeli military said that on the morning of the 19th, Israeli forces were dismantling armed Palestinian groups' military facilities in the southern Gaza city of Rafah when a group of militants emerged from a tunnel and opened fire on two Israeli excavators. According to the Israeli side, this attack took place on the east side of the "yellow line" in the area controlled by Israeli forces and was carried out by Hamas, constituting a serious violation of the first phase ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The attack left two Israeli soldiers dead and three wounded. "In response," the Israeli military conducted airstrikes and shelling on Hamas military targets in the Rafah area and then widened the scope of the strikes.