Israel Strikes Gaza After Rocket, Ceasefire Talks at Risk

Israeli forces carried out strikes on Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip on Monday in response to a rocket launch that the Israeli military said was intercepted by air defences. The military characterized the strikes as a targeted response to the launch; Hamas confirmed that Israeli aircraft struck locations in Gaza but provided no immediate details on casualties or damage. The exchange of fire came as mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been conducting weeks-long indirect negotiations aimed at a temporary ceasefire that would include the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza in return for Palestinian prisoners, and an increase in humanitarian aid. Diplomats and mediators have warned that such incidents risk derailing painstaking progress by hardening positions on both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced intense pressure from families of hostages demanding their return, while also contending with calls from members of his governing coalition to sustain military pressure on Hamas. The rocket launch and subsequent strikes represent the most significant spike in cross-border hostilities in recent days, complicating political calculations in Jerusalem and raising the stakes for mediators trying to finalize terms. The broader conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters carried out a large-scale assault into Israel; Israeli officials and media cited roughly 1,200 people killed and about 240 taken hostage in that attack, figures widely reported though aspects remain contested. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has produced a heavy civilian toll; the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports more than 24,000 Palestinians killed, a figure that cannot be independently verified. Gaza's roughly 2.3 million residents have faced prolonged bombardment, displacement and severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies. Analysts say such flare-ups during negotiations increase the risk that talks will stall and that violence could escalate again, imperilling both the immediate humanitarian relief that mediators seek to deliver and any near-term hostage releases. International envoys have emphasized that a temporary ceasefire is the most viable route to secure hostage releases and expand aid corridors, but continued tit-for-tat strikes underscore how fragile any arrangement remains and how quickly local incidents can have regional repercussions.