The Israeli military conducted airstrikes in Rafah and other areas of southern Gaza on Sunday, following what it described as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire by Hamas.
The strikes came after clashes in which Hamas fighters allegedly attacked Israeli forces using sniper fire and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).
According to Israeli sources, including Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and military officials held discussions regarding the situation. Israel’s public broadcaster said the strikes followed an exchange of fire with Hamas operatives. Qatari outlet Al Jazeera reported that an IED explosion in Rafah injured Israeli soldiers, though these claims could not be independently verified.
AFP reported that the fighting erupted in the southern part of Rafah still under Israeli control, prompting two airstrikes. Israel accused Hamas of attacking its troops, while Hamas countered by saying the ceasefire had been violated by Israeli forces. A senior Hamas official criticized Netanyahu, claiming he was trying to evade responsibilities to mediators and guarantors.
Gaza’s civil defence agency, operating under Hamas authority, said it had recovered the bodies of nine Palestinians — including men, women, and children — after Israeli troops fired tank shells at a bus on Saturday.
The Israeli military stated that on Friday, several Hamas operatives had opened fire on Israeli soldiers in Rafah without causing injuries. It later said it struck another group approaching troops in Khan Younis. The military emphasized that operations would continue to neutralize immediate threats.
The tensions come amid a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, under which Hamas has returned all 20 surviving hostages and the remains of 12 deceased hostages. As per the agreement, all hostages, dead and alive, were to be handed over by Monday at 0900 GMT. Hamas has said it requires more time and technical assistance to recover the remaining bodies from beneath the rubble in Gaza.
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