The fragile truce in Gaza faced its first major test on Sunday after Israel alleged Hamas had violated the ceasefire and hit back with air and artillery strikes.
Earlier Sunday, Israel’s military said it hit multiple targets in the Gaza Strip using aircraft and artillery, after it accused Hamas of shooting at Israeli soldiers.
An Israeli military official told CBS News that Hamas had targeted its soldiers with a rocket-propelled grenade and sniper fire.
Israel’s military said it had struck dozens of what it called Hamas targets.
Israel has released 150 bodies of Palestinians back to Gaza, including 15 on Sunday, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Israel claimed Hamas had broken the ceasefire and retaliated with air and artillery strikes on Sunday, marking the first significant test of the precarious ceasefire in Gaza.
On the condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement, an Israeli security official told the Associated Press that aid transfers into Gaza have been suspended “until further notice.”. “,”.
Israel’s military said earlier Sunday that it used artillery and aircraft to strike several targets in the Gaza Strip after accusing Hamas of firing at Israeli soldiers.
Hamas used sniper fire and a rocket-propelled grenade to target its soldiers, an Israeli military official told CBS News. No injuries were reported.
The official stated that “both incidents occurred in an area under Israeli control, east of the yellow line.”. This is an audacious breach of the ceasefire. “.”.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, consulted with Israel’s security chiefs and ordered the military to take “strong action” against “terrorist targets,” according to a statement from his office. He made no threats to go back to war.
Hamas claimed that none of the clashes that had been previously reported in southern Gaza’s Rafah were its involvement.
According to a statement released by the group’s Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, “We reaffirm our full commitment to implement everything that was agreed upon, foremost of which is a ceasefire across all areas of the Gaza Strip.”. Since contact with the remaining groups of ours in the Rafah area has been cut off since the war resumed in March of this year, we are unaware of any incidents or clashes occurring there. These areas are red zones under the occupation’s control. “..”.
In Gaza, at least 38 people have died since Sunday morning, according to hospital sources who spoke to CBS News.
The Israeli military claimed to have hit dozens of targets it claimed were Hamas.
“In accordance with the directives of the political echelon,” Israel’s military said later Sunday, it had started “re-enforcing the ceasefire following its violation by the terrorist organization Hamas.”. “.
The Israeli military released a statement stating, “The IDF will continue to enforce the ceasefire agreement and will respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.”.
The attacks coincided with Israel identifying the bodies of two hostages that Hamas had freed overnight, and the Palestinian organization announced that negotiations to begin the second phase of ceasefire talks had begun.
Israel, meanwhile, threatened to close the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza “until further notice.”. Reopening Rafah would be contingent upon Hamas fulfilling its commitment under the ceasefire agreement to return the remains of all the hostages who have died, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office. According to Israeli media, 16 hostages’ bodies—two of whom were foreigners—remain in Gaza.
Additionally, the U.S. S. According to “credible reports,” the State Department issued a warning that Hamas might be preparing an attack on “Palestinian civilians” in the Gaza Strip.
The State Department stated that the potential attack “would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” but it gave no information about the attack’s timing or location. “.”.
Hamas denied the accusations on Sunday, referring to them as “false allegations.”. Israel was accused by the group of aiding armed groups that operate in areas under Israeli control. Hamas asked the U. S. . government to exert pressure on Israel to cease “providing a safe haven” and aiding the gangs. “,”.
Following Israeli troops’ withdrawal to a pre-established line, a ceasefire was established in Gaza last week, marking the beginning of the first phase of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan between Israel and Gaza. Twelve hostages’ remains and twenty alive hostages have since been freed by Hamas. In the meantime, Israel has freed almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners. About 1,700 Palestinians who have been detained and held without charges since October are among the released Palestinians, along with 250 individuals serving life sentences. terrorist attack on Israel on July 7, 2023.
The Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, reports that Israel has returned 150 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, including 15 on Sunday. Israel has not disclosed how the bodies died or identified them.
The disarmament of Hamas, Israeli withdrawal from other areas it controls in Gaza, and future governance of the devastated territory are anticipated to be the main topics of the ceasefire’s subsequent phases.
