US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Social media
20 Oct 2025 10:50
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US administration sources confirm the Rafah explosion killing Israeli soldiers was caused by an Israeli armored vehicle hitting unexploded ordnance.

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A screengrab shows al-Qassam Brigades fighters monitoring an Israeli D9 military-grade bulldozer, east of Deir al-Balah, the central Gaza Strip, Palestine (al-Qassam Brigades/Military Media)

New reports indicate that the deadly explosion in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, which killed two Israeli occupation soldiers on October 19, 2025, was not carried out by Hamas, as initially claimed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

According to Ryan Grim, reporter at Drop Site News, both the White House and the Pentagon were quickly aware that the blast was caused by a bulldozer operated by an Israeli settler company running over unexploded ordnance, not a Hamas tunnel attack, slamming Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas fighters had popped up from tunnels.

Footage has also shown Israeli excavators destroying what remains of damaged buildings in Rafah, further supporting the claims.

Grim notes that after Netanyahu falsely attributed the explosion to the Palestinian Resistance, specifically Hamas, and responded by blocking aid into Gaza and launching a large bombing campaign, the US administration immediately conveyed to "Israel" that it knew the true cause.

Shortly after, Netanyahu announced the reopening of crossings into Gaza, and the Israeli occupation's military command said it would reinstate the ceasefire.

Soon after the explosion in Rafah, I’m told by a source familiar, the White House and Pentagon knew that the incident was caused by an Israeli settler bulldozer running over unexploded ordnance — contradicting Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas had popped up from tunnels.

After… https://t.co/Xwy63sEL3M
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) October 19, 2025

Incident confirmed by several sources

Curt Mills, Executive Director of The American Conservative, cited senior US administration sources as confirming, “Hamas did nothing. Israeli tank hit an unexploded IED that has probably been there for months.”

Similarly, Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi, a security and political affairs specialist, stated that the Rafah incident was a bulldozer running over unexploded ordnance. Tirawi emphasized the irony of repeatedly blaming Hamas for accidents caused by "Israel’s" demolition operations amid a hazardous landscape created by "Israel’s" own bombing campaigns.

Rafah today | “You cease, I fire”

Israeli civil contractors hired by the military continue demolishing homes of displaced Palestinians north the city. pic.twitter.com/te5ScSOROc
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) October 19, 2025

Trump says Hamas leadership not behind death of Israeli troops in Gaza

Even US President Donald Trump suggested that the leadership of Hamas was not responsible for the recent death of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in southern Gaza.

However, speaking aboard Air Force One on October 19, Trump claimed that the attack was carried out by “some rebels within” the movement.

Trump stated clearly, “Either way, it’s going to be handled properly. It’s going to be handled toughly, but properly.” He expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza would hold and reaffirmed Washington’s intent to maintain stability, citing, “It’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas.”

Hamas rejects US accusations of ceasefire violations in Gaza

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas has strongly rejected allegations made by the US State Department accusing it of preparing an “imminent attack” and violating the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, calling the claims “false” and “in full alignment with Israeli propaganda.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, Hamas said the US remarks “completely overlap with the Israeli occupation’s disinformation and provide political cover for its ongoing organized crimes and aggression against our people.”

The movement emphasized that “facts on the ground prove the exact opposite,” accusing the Israeli occupation of forming, arming, and funding criminal gangs responsible for killings, kidnappings, looting aid trucks, and robbing Palestinian civilians.

'Israel’s' retaliation and ceasefire tensions

Despite evidence of the accident, "Israel" initially committed grave violations of the truce, killing at least 26 Palestinians in Gaza, before resuming the brokered ceasefire. Netanyahu’s early decision to block aid deliveries underscores the political leverage "Israel" continues to exploit over humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Repeated misattributions not only put civilians and aid workers at risk but also provide a pretext for "Israel" to conduct bombing campaigns that deepen humanitarian crises across the occupied territory.

The precarious truce faces further pressure as Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir openly called for the resumption of full-scale war on Gaza, citing the return of captives as justification. His statements follow the completion of a stage in the ceasefire deal, where detainees and captives would be exchanged. However, several bodies of deceased Israeli captives remain uncovered due to the extensive destruction in Gaza.

Ben-Gvir’s comments signal an eagerness by Israeli officials to disregard negotiated agreements, casting doubt on the durability of the current US-Qatar-Egypt-Turkiye-backed ceasefire.