Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army on Tuesday to launch ‘immediate, powerful strikes’ in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement, his office said. In a statement, Netanyahu’s office revealed that the decision to carry out these strikes followed security consultations over alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas.
According to Anadolu Agency, at least nine Palestinians were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli attacks following Netanyahu’s order. The move also coincided with the public broadcaster KAN reporting that the prime minister decided to expand the territory under the army’s control in Gaza behind the ‘yellow line.’ This ‘yellow line’ refers to the area to which Israeli forces have withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement, stretching from the southern North Gaza Governorate to the outskirts of Rafah.
KAN mentioned that the Israeli premier was coordinating with senior US officials regarding this development. However, Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the report. Israeli media indicated that the escalation occurred after Israeli forces came under sniper fire and anti-tank shells in the southern city of Rafah. Hamas denied involvement, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire deal and postponing a planned handover of the body of an Israeli captive. The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, warned that any Israeli escalation would hinder search and excavation operations.
A senior US official informed news website Axios that top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration communicated to Netanyahu’s team that they did not view it as a material breach of the deal by Hamas. The officials urged Israel against taking measures that could jeopardize the ceasefire. Shortly after, Netanyahu convened an emergency security meeting and decided to resume airstrikes on Gaza, with possible responses including the resumption of strikes and expansion of the occupied Gaza area under the deal, as reported by Axios.
The ceasefire agreement, in place in Gaza since Oct. 10 under Trump’s 20-point plan, includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisions the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in over 68,500 deaths, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,000 others in Gaza.