The IDF announced at 10 a.m. on Wednesday that the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip has resumed. Following the end of Israeli airstrikes, including in Rafah, where reservist Master Sgt. (res.) Efi (Yona Efraim) Feldbaum, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was killed.
Israel is also preparing to receive the bodies of two hostages held by Hamas. The terror group announced Tuesday night that it had located the bodies of hostages Sahar Baruch and Amiram Cooper.
The announcement of the renewed cease-fire came from the IDF, not the political echelon, which just a day earlier had boasted about launching a wave of strikes in response to Hamas violations. In its official statement, the IDF said: “In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, and following a series of significant strikes targeting dozens of terror sites and terrorists, the IDF has resumed enforcement of the cease-fire agreement after it was breached by the Hamas terror organization.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a brief condolence message shortly after the announcement, mourning the death of the reservist, while Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a blunt statement that made no mention of the IDF’s return to the cease-fire.
Katz said: “Dozens of Hamas commanders were foiled in a powerful IDF operation in response to the attack on soldiers and the flagrant violation of the agreement to return the hostages, in addition to strikes on dozens of infrastructure targets. There is and will be no immunity for anyone in the leadership of the Hamas terror organization — neither for those in suits nor for those hiding in tunnels. Whoever raises a hand against IDF soldiers — his hand will be cut off. The IDF has been instructed to act forcefully against every Hamas target, and that will continue in the future. Whoever attacks IDF soldiers and violates agreements will pay the full price.”
According to reports from Gaza, at least 91 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours: 28 in Gaza City, 3 in northern Gaza, 42 in central areas, and 18 in the south.
The anticipated ceasefire directive comes after Hamas violated the truce by firing on Israeli troops in Rafah and failing to return the bodies of 13 hostages. In response, President Donald Trump, currently visiting Asia, said Israel had “the right to respond” but emphasized that this did not mean the ceasefire was over. “Hamas is just a small part of the Middle East deal,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “If they don’t behave, they’ll be eliminated.”
Feldbaum, a reservist in the Gaza Division, was killed by gunfire during IDF activity in Rafah when militants opened fire on an engineering vehicle around 3:45 p.m. A second anti-tank missile was fired minutes later at another vehicle, but no further casualties were reported.
Feldbaum, from Zayit Raanan in the Binyamin Regional Council, leaves behind his wife Shulamit and five children: twins David and Yonatan, daughters Yasmine and Rita-Rivka, and 11-year-old son Uri.
His father-in-law, Menachem Levy, said: “They’ve turned me into the children’s father now. Efi was quiet and humble, a true book lover with hundreds of books on every subject — Japan, world history, you name it.”
A close friend, Rabbi Daniel Luntzer, said Feldbaum recently decided to return to reserve duty. “He was a special man. His children were his whole world,” Luntzer said. “Every day after finishing work in Gaza, he’d ride his motorcycle home just to have dinner with them. After the ceasefire began, we thought things had calmed down — then came this blow.”
Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, mourned Feldbaum’s death: “Efi fought on the front line in Gaza and continued even after the ceasefire was declared, which Hamas terrorists repeatedly violated. On behalf of all Binyamin residents, I send condolences to his wife, children, and family. Thanks to Efi’s bravery and sacrifice, the people of Israel will prevail. We are not afraid of a long road.”