The Gaza ceasefire is hanging by a seemingly thinning thread, barely a month after the Sharm El Sheikh peace deal was triumphantly signed and lauded across the world, with the US President on center stage.
Israel yesterday launched dozens of air strikes in Gaza with more than 50 dead, including 22 children-as reported- claiming Hamas violations, with the Palestinian organisation clearly struggling to find the remains of Israeli hostages-13 still to be handed over, in an issue that's growing into a make or break thriller as civilians in the enclave hold their breath.
Donald Trump, on a very different and perhaps even more challenging diplomatic foray in Asia, denied that the ceasefire was 'crumbling' following the latest Israeli attacks and issued a stark warning. 'Hamas will be eradicated if they do not comply with their own end of the deal'.
Sending international media into a frenzy, Israeli networks had reported earlier yesterday that PM Netanyahu ordered the strikes following an attack on forces in Rafah, resulting in the death of one soldier.
On route to South Korea, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that nothing 'can endanger the ceasefire in Gaza'.
He blamed Hamas for the Israeli response. 'They killed an Israeli soldier, so they fought back', Trump said.
But, in a much more visible reminder of what's at stake here, shocking photos are making the rounds of global outlets of Hamas is digging tunnels, looking for hostage remains.
Hamas members looking for hostage remains. AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi
The background to the air raids
According to Israel's channel 12, Tel Aviv and the White House were deep in consultation yesterday on how to deal with the fact that Hamas was finding it difficult to return the remains, mostly out of logistical weakness.
Netanuyahu was looking for the American green light to launch, but Trump was holding back, right until the incident in Rafah.
Earlier in the day, Israel had send drone videos to the CIA, reportedly showing Hamas members fake-shooting the discovery of an Israeli hostage body, returned the previous eveningm indicating that this constituted a ceasefire violation.
The Americans disagreed, according to Channel 12 and encouraged Israel not to proceed with any decisive action that could jeopardise the peace deal. They instead proposed a 72 hour deadline on Hamas to return the remains, following which Tel Aviv would get a geeen light to strike or extend the 'Yellow Line of Control'.
Following yesterday's developments, Netanyahu seems to be backtracking this morning at a meeting with military officials, refraining from further attacks and making clear that any decision on raids must be jointly decided with the Americans.
The Israeli PM is not however shelving any additional military operation plans or extending the yellow control line, merely biding his time, local media report.
SOURCE-ISRAELI MEDIA/CNN GREECE