Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct 19: Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip accusing Hamas of orchestrating a major ambush on its troops. The renewed violence threatens to derail the fragile truce established under US President Donald Trump’s peace plan earlier this month.

According to Israeli officials, the strikes targeted Hamas positions in response to what they described as a “significant and coordinated attack” on Israeli forces inside Gaza. The exchange comes just days after an uneasy ceasefire had allowed limited movement of civilians and humanitarian operations in the war-torn enclave.

In an effort to prevent further escalation, diplomatic trouble-shooters are set to arrive in the region this week. US Vice President JD Vance is expected to accompany White House mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on a visit aimed at restoring momentum to the Trump-era peace framework. The US embassy in Jerusalem, however, declined to comment on the visit.

Trump’s internationally supported plan calls for Hamas to disarm and hand over administrative control of Gaza to a foreign-supervised Palestinian authority — conditions the militant group has so far rejected.

Under the initial implementation phase, Israel had partially withdrawn its troops and tanks to a “yellow line,” leaving over half of Gaza still under its control. The move allowed some Palestinian civilians to return to safer areas and begin rebuilding, while Hamas, in compliance with parts of the truce, released several Israeli hostages.

Observers fear the latest hostilities could undo weeks of delicate diplomacy and push the region back toward full-scale conflict.