U.S. says ‘targeted’ strike doesn’t break truce
A U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza is holding, but it is already under strain. Israel said it carried out a “targeted strike” over the weekend against an Islamic Jihad member it accused of planning new attacks. Palestinian sources said the strike killed at least one suspected fighter. Gaza medical workers said other people were hurt in the same blast. The strike triggered anger in parts of Gaza and in the occupied West Bank, where mourners gathered around fresh graves and accused Israel of breaking the deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded by saying Washington does not view the strike as a violation of the ceasefire. He argued the truce allows Israel to act in “immediate self-defense” if it sees an imminent threat. Rubio also said the priority remains delivering aid, clearing unexploded ordnance, and keeping both Israeli troops and armed groups from escalating. For the Trump administration, the ceasefire is the first visible pillar of its Gaza plan, which links hostage releases, phased Israeli pullbacks, and billions of dollars in reconstruction money.

Unanswered questions after two years of war
The ceasefire paused full-scale combat after almost two years of war that began with Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel and left much of northern Gaza in ruins. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since then, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced at least once. Now, thousands of families are walking back into shattered neighborhoods with no running water, limited food, and unexploded bombs still in the rubble. Aid agencies say Israel is still restricting relief trucks and fuel even under the truce.
Israel has demanded that Hamas disarm and hand over the remains of Israelis who died in captivity. Hamas says it will not give up weapons without guarantees on Gaza’s future governance. The U.S. wants an international security presence on the ground in Gaza eventually, but says it will not send American troops. Regional diplomats warn that if these gaps are not closed fast, the pause could collapse into scattered raids, revenge killings, and factional violence inside Gaza itself. For now, the ceasefire technically stands — but it is already being stretched by every drone strike, every funeral, and every border argument over aid.