Israel strikes Gaza as IDF and Hamas accuse each other of breaching ceasefire-BBC
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The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has reached a critical moment as both sides accuse each other of violating the truce
The Israel Defense Forces says Hamas “fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops” near Rafah, but the militant group says it is unaware of any clashes there
Israel’s military has carried out air strikes in Rafah in response, it says
Hamas has said Israel “continues to breach the agreement”, while the IDF says the alleged attack by Hamas is a “bold violation of the ceasefire”
Elsewhere, a doctor at al-Aqsa Hospital says nine Palestinians have been killed in central Gaza by Israeli air strikes on al-Zawaida and Nuseirat
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the 7 October 2023 attack, in which Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 others hostage
More than 68,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.Israel strikes Gaza as IDF and Hamas accuse each other of breaching ceasefire – In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “directed that strong action be taken against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,” his office said in a post on X.
The IDF said it struck the area to respond to the attacks and also to dismantle tunnel shafts and other structures used by Hamas, calling the violence against its troops a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
Hamas said in a statement that it had been cut off from its remaining groups in the Rafah area and was “unaware” of any violence taking place there, and added that it remained fully committed to the ceasefire agreement, the BBC reported.
Both sides have accused each other in recent days of breaking the ceasefire agreement, which was brokered by the U.S. and included the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza following the October 7th attacks more than two years ago. In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
