Israel slams Gaza after accusing Hamas of ‘violating’ ceasefire in major US-blocred truce test
Israel carried out several strikes on Sunday after it said its forces came under fire from missiles in the first “violation” of a major US deal.
An Israeli military official said Hamas attacked Israeli forces in Rafah with rockets and sniper fire, prompting Israel to carry out strikes in the area.
Hamas pushed Israeli forces across the Yellow Line – the line behind which Israeli forces withdrew according to the Recongfire Deal – in three separate incidents on Sunday.
Another source familiar with the incident in Rafah said that the Israeli forces were attacked. The incident happened behind the yellow line.
Hospitals and Witnesses report at least eight people were killed in Israel in several sections of Gaza.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire since it began nine days ago, ending months of fighting to allow Palestinian prisoners and detainees. But Sunday’s events are far worse.
Hamas said in a statement on Sunday that it has committed itself to the ceasefire agreement. Its military wing, Al Qassam Brigades (AQB), denied knowledge of “any incidents or conflicts” in Rafah and said it was committed to the area “in the entire Gaza strip.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also had a security consultation with the Minister of Defense of Israel and the Chiefs of the military on Sunday, who ordered “against” the terrorists “in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it carried out airstrikes and artillery fire in Rafah, destroying the infrastructure of Hamu.
“Hamas will pay a heavy price for every shooting and violation of the ceasefire, and if the message is not understood, the magnitude of our responses will continue to increase,” Katz said in a statement.
Netanyahu is under pressure to respond to any violations from the right parties that support his coalition, with the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, calling on him to continue the war in Gaza “with full force.”
Amid the renewed strikes, AQB said it had found the body of another Israeli during an ongoing search, “and will hand it over today if field conditions permit.”
The AQB warned that any increase in the Israeli military would “block, dig, fix bodies.”
Hamas is at odds with rivals
While much is not known about this incident in Rafah, it happened on Sunday morning as the Hamas security Rada’a security was targeted in the “case” of the war supported by Israel led by Yasser Abu Shabab. In June, Israel confirmed that it was arming a few such soldiers in an effort to fight Hamas.
Muhammad Shehada, an expert on Gaza at the European Council on foreign relations, said these fighters are now coming from the Israeli-occupied areas of Gaza, and are starting to attack these protected areas. “
Since the trade began last week, Hamas has carried out what it calls a “security campaign” aimed at “collaborators, mercenaries, thieves, bandits, and those who cooperate with the enemy of Gaza throughout the Gaza Strip.”
The internal clashes have created a tense security situation with violence erupting between Hamas and rival groups in several neighborhoods in Gaza City as large crowds look on.
Sunday’s incident brought further impetus to the Reseamfire, with next steps still in the works.
Israel shot dead Palestinians suspected of approaching the yellow line, in what Hamas called a “flagrant violation” of the cease-fire. Israel also accuses Hamas of delaying the return of all hostages held in Gaza as required by the agreement, and closing the main border crossing until it is over.
Hamas returned 12 of the 28 bodies that were roasted in accordance with the cease-fire agreement with Israel, which came into force last week. All 12 have now been officially identified.
This story has been updated with additional information and context.
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