Israel has launched air strikes in southern Gaza, accusing Hamas of attacks in a “bold violation of the ceasefire”.
Hamas has strongly denied any planned imminent attack and has in turn accused Israel of supporting rival armed groups in Gaza.
Fierce clashes erupted a week ago – involving Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family in Gaza City.
Under the Trump 20-point ceasefire, Hamas is supposed to relinquish its weapons so that it no longer poses a threat to Israel.
Therefore, any instances or evidence of armed action by either Hamas or other factions in Gaza would be considered a violation of the ceasefire.
Israel accused Hamas of attacks in a “bold violation of the ceasefire” and launched airstrikes in southern Gaza.
Hamas has carried out “multiple attacks against Israeli forces beyond the yellow line,” according to a military spokesman, which is the area where Israeli troops have reportedly withdrew in compliance with phase one of the US-brokered agreement.
Accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, Hamas declared its commitment to it.
On October 10, the agreement, which was a component of President Donald Trump’s strategy to end the war in Gaza, went into effect. In addition to 12 of the 28 hostages who died during the first phase of the ceasefire, all of the hostages who are still alive have been freed.
Israel has also released 1,718 Palestinian detainees from Gaza and 250 Palestinian prisoners in its jails as part of the agreement. Additionally, Israel has returned 15 Palestinian bodies in exchange for the remains of every Israeli hostage.
In response to the October 7, 2023, attack in which Hamas-led gunmen killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and captured 251 more, the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza.
The UN believes the Hamas-run health ministry’s figures, which show that Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed at least 68,000 people since then.
The US claimed to have “credible reports” that Hamas was preparing an “imminent” attack on civilians in Gaza, which would be a “direct and grave” violation of the ceasefire agreement. The attacks in Rafah occurred just hours after the US made this announcement.
According to the state department, a planned assault on Palestinians would “undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts.”.
More information or how this would violate the ceasefire negotiated with Israel and mediated by the US was not included in the statement.
Hamas has accused Israel of aiding rival armed groups in Gaza and has vehemently denied any imminent attack plans. However, it has been taking back control in the power vacuum left by Israel’s partial withdrawal.
In addition to demanding that Hamas fulfill its end of the ceasefire terms, the State Department said it had already notified Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, the other guarantors of the Gaza peace agreement.
The US statement stated, “If Hamas continues with this attack, steps will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and maintain the integrity of the ceasefire.”.
Hamas has already received warnings from President Donald Trump not to kill civilians.
In an earlier post on Truth Social this week, Trump stated, “We will have no choice but to go in and kill them if Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal.”.
He subsequently clarified that he would not be deploying American forces to Gaza.
Graphic videos depicting a public execution by Hamas gunmen in Gaza were verified by BBC Verify last week.
A week ago in Gaza City, armed members of the Dughmush family and Hamas security forces engaged in violent altercations.
This was one of the bloodiest internal clashes since the end of major Israeli operations in the enclave, with 27 people killed.
After withdrawing to a predetermined “Yellow Line” as part of Phase 1 of the Trump plan, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) still hold and govern slightly more than half of the Gaza Strip.
There are alarming reports that gangs in Gaza who have stolen aid convoys can now travel freely in the Israeli-controlled eastern region of the territory.
Hamas, which has controlled the region for eighteen years, is up against armed organizations like gangs like Abu Shabab’s Popular Forces, which it claims are armed and backed by Israel.
Approximately 7,000 members of its security forces have been called back to retake control of Gaza, according to local sources.
The Trump 20-point ceasefire calls for Hamas to give up its weapons in order to cease being a threat to Israel.
In response to the US warning on Saturday, Hamas stated that its police forces in Gaza are “fulfilling their national duty in pursuing these gangs and holding them accountable” and that it has not done so.
“Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people,” according to another provision in the ceasefire agreement, are to be ensured by regional partners.
As a result, any indications or cases of armed conflict in Gaza by Hamas or other groups would be regarded as a breach of the ceasefire.
