Israel Launches Wave of Heavy Airstrikes Across Gaza, Killing at Least 42
Reports contradict Israel's claim that its troops came under attack in Rafah on Sunday
by Dave DeCamp | October 19, 2025 at 2:19 pm ET
Updated on October 19, 2025, at 4:03 pm EST
The Israeli military launched heavy airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday, killing at least 42 Palestinians, marking the deadliest day of Israeli attacks in the Strip since the ceasefire went into effect on October 10.
The IDF stepped up its attacks on Gaza after alleging its troops were attacked by Palestinian militants in Rafah, southern Gaza, calling it a “violation” of the ceasefire, though reports indicate an explosion was caused by an Israeli vehicle running over an unexploded bomb.
Hamas denied responsibility for the incident in Rafah on Sunday, saying it hasn’t been in contact with its fighters in the area. “We confirm our full commitment to carrying out everything that was agreed, first and foremost the ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip,” Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.
“We have no knowledge of any incidents or clashes taking place in the Rafah area, since these are red zones under occupation control, and contact with what remains of our groups there has been cut off since the war resumed in March of this year. We have no information on whether they have been killed or are still alive since that date,” al-Qassam added.
Israeli officials said later in the day that two IDF soldiers were killed in the attack. According to Haaretz, Israeli military officials said they thought militants fired on Israeli troops after exiting a tunnel, but other reports contradict the claim.
Curt Mills, the Executive Director of The American Conservative, wrote on X that a senior Trump administration official told him: “Hamas did nothing. Israeli tank hit an unexploded IED that has probably been there for months.”
Israel Launches Wave of Heavy Airstrikes Across Gaza, Killing at Least 42 - News From Antiwar.com
Both Trump and Israel lied. Also confirms IDF's assessment that Hamas command and control structure has been mostly destroyed and what remains are isolated fighters and others who have taken up arms in a lawless region. |
