Rafah: The Israeli army launched airstrikes in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday despite a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the military said. A military statement indicated that the strikes targeted what it called Hamas military structures following anti-tank missile attacks and gunfire on its troops. The army stated it has begun striking in the area to dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported that the strikes were staged following an exchange of fire with Hamas. Channel 12 claimed that the attack followed an incident where a military vehicle was targeted by Hamas fighters. In response to the situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions with Defense Minister Israel Katz and heads of the security establishment. Netanyahu's office reported that the premier instructed to act forcefully against what he described as 'terror targets' in Gaza.
In a post on US social media account X, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Netanyahu to 'resume combat in the Gaza Strip with maximum force.' Hamas, however, stated that it was not aware of any incidents or clashes in Rafah. The group's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, mentioned that contact with their fighters in the area has been lost since the resumption of hostilities earlier this year. Hamas emphasized its commitment to the ceasefire deal across all areas of the Gaza Strip.
Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq denied the Israeli claims, reiterating the group's commitment to the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, Rishq accused Israel of 'fabricating flimsy pretexts to justify its actions' in the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire and hostage swap agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas last week, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump. This plan included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and envisaged the rebuilding of Gaza with a new governing mechanism.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with more than 68,100 people killed and over 170,200 injured since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.