Israel has unleashed a wave of airstrikes on southern Gaza, targeting areas in Rafah and Jabalia just one week after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect.
The strikes, which Israeli officials described as a “firm response” to alleged Hamas attacks, have killed at least eight Palestinians and wounded dozens more, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The airstrikes come after a ceasefire agreement was reached on October 11. The ceasefire agreement came after a 20-point deal spearheaded by United States President Donald Trump.
Under phase one of the plan, Hamas was to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while Israel committed to withdrawing forces to a “yellow line” buffer zone and allowing 600 aid trucks daily into the besieged enclave.
However, Israel launched airstrikes on southern Gaza early Sunday and accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by carrying out attacks on its forces.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it had begun strikes in the Rafah area “to eliminate the threat” posed by militants and “dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity.”
Israel said it was acting “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement,” accusing militants of firing an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops in the area. These actions “constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly,” it said.
An Israeli military official earlier accused Hamas of a “bold violation of the ceasefire” with incidents including a rocket-propelled grenade attack and a sniper attack against Israeli forces.
“Hamas carried out multiple attacks against Israeli forces beyond the yellow line,” the Israeli military official said, referring to the area where its military is now positioned inside Gaza under the first phase of the ceasefire.
Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that the IDF would “act forcefully.” He said that “Hamas will learn the hard way today that the IDF is determined to protect its soldiers and prevent any harm to them.”
However, Izzat Al-Rishq, a senior member of Hamas‘ political wing, said the group “affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement,” accusing Israel of violating the agreement and working to “fabricate flimsy pretexts” to evade its responsibilities.
Hamas’ armed wing said it was “unaware of any events or clashes taking place in the Rafah area,” adding that the area was under Israeli control and that its contact with groups there had been cut off since the collapse of a previous ceasefire in March. It also affirmed its “full commitment to implementing everything that was agreed upon, foremost among which is the ceasefire.”
