The Israeli army announced that it had launched a wave of attacks against Hamas targets in the southern part of the Gaza Strip , in response to the firing of anti-tank missiles by Palestinian gunmen at Israeli forces in Rafa.

Israel will suspend humanitarian aid to Gaza until further notice, according to reports in several Israeli media outlets, following the government's accusations that Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement.

According to Axios, citing American and Israeli officials, Israel had informed Washington in advance of the strikes, through the US coordination center that oversees the implementation of the ceasefire.

Despite the warning, Washington called on Tel Aviv to react proportionately but with restraint, in order to prevent the collapse of the peace agreement reached with the mediation of the Trump administration.

The initial incident in Rafah occurred early Sunday morning, when – according to the Israeli military – Hamas fighters emerged from a tunnel and fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF vehicle.

This was followed by approximately twenty airstrikes against Hamas infrastructure in the area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of a flagrant violation of the ceasefire and declared that there would be a strong response.

Hamas' armed wing denied any responsibility, claiming that it has no contact with fighters in Rafah and that it remains committed to the ceasefire.

In a statement, it said it was not aware of any incident or conflict in the area, which is still controlled by Israeli forces.

A Trump administration source told Axios that the incident was anticipated and that the longer the two sides remain without strict control, the greater the risk of a new conflict.

According to the same official, Washington asked Israel to focus on isolating Hamas and creating an alternative governing authority in Gaza, rather than resuming hostilities.

The agreement to end the war in Gaza, considered a major diplomatic achievement by Trump, remains extremely fragile.

The next thirty days will be critical, a senior US official said, adding that the American side will increase control over the implementation of the agreement.

In the background, Washington is concerned that both Hamas and Israel are acting in ways that undermine the agreement.

The Israelis have threatened to suspend the implementation of the plan due to Hamas' delays in returning the bodies of the hostages, while, according to American sources, there have been incidents in which Israeli soldiers killed Palestinian civilians near the line of contact.

The situation is borderline, said a US official. Hamas believed it would continue as before, and so did Israel. Now we have to keep them in check. The Gulf states absolutely agree.

The next phase

Vice President J. D. Vance is expected in Israel this week, along with envoys Steve Whitkoff and Jared Kushner, who will oversee the next phase of the plan.

The discussions will focus on stabilizing the ceasefire, continuing the handover of bodies, regulating humanitarian aid, creating an international stabilization force, and launching the New Rafah plan – a model zone without Hamas control.

As a senior American official stated, now the real work begins.

Rebuilding Gaza, he said, requires people who know how to run a city, operate water and sewage networks, and organize local governance.

The challenge, he added, is enormous, as most of Gaza is a pile of rubble.

At the same time, Washington is trying to ensure that the transport of cement and building materials does not end up in the hands of Hamas, which uses them to build underground tunnels.

American sources did not rule out the possibility, in the event of new violations, of supporting targeted Israeli operations to regain control over areas of Gaza, so that more Palestinians can live outside of Hamas's influence.