Five Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the elite Golani Brigade were wounded—one of them seriously—after Palestinian terrorists launched a surprise attack from an underground tunnel in eastern Rafah. According to the IDF, the attackers emerged suddenly from a concealed shaft and opened fire at close range. Troops immediately returned fire, killing two militants and securing the area.

The assault marks yet another violation of the fragile Israel–Hamas ceasefire that began on November 27, 2025. Israeli officials report more than 70 breaches by Palestinian factions since the agreement took effect, with tunnel activity and attempted ambushes among the most alarming indicators that Hamas and its affiliates remain combat-active despite international pressure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security consultation following the attack, instructing defense officials to prepare immediate retaliatory actions. Within hours, Israeli aircraft struck terror-linked infrastructure in Khan Younis, targeting tunnel entrances, weapons depots, and terror cells believed to be involved in the Rafah operation.

Military analysts warn that the attack reflects Hamas’s ongoing dependence on tunnel warfare—a tactic long used to smuggle fighters, weapons, explosives, and kidnapped Israelis beneath dense urban zones. The emerging pattern of escalations, they argue, shows that Hamas continues to exploit ceasefires as tactical pauses rather than genuine steps toward de-escalation.

For residents of southern Israel, the renewed violence underscores a familiar and dangerous reality: the ceasefire is being undermined daily by continued terror activity. IDF officials emphasized that the army will respond with “full force” to any threat against Israeli soldiers or civilians, ceasefire or not.

As Israel assesses the situation, the government is making clear that the protection of troops on the ground remains its highest priority. The Rafah tunnel attack may be a turning point in determining whether the current ceasefire can survive further violations—or whether Israel will be forced to resume major operations in Gaza to restore security.