The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that they struck Gaza and stated a «gross violation» of the ceasefire by Palestinian radicals from Hamas. According to the IDF, on Friday, several Palestinian militants emerged from a tunnel in the Rafah area and opened fire on Israeli soldiers. No one was injured in the incident.
«In response to repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement and the criminal attack committed by Hamas terrorists this morning, the IDF will attack Hamas terrorist infrastructure and militants», — quotes The Times of Israel Colonel Avichay Adraee of the Israel Defense Forces.
Earlier, the Kan public broadcaster reported an Israeli Air Force strike on Rafah in the south of the enclave in response to Hamas gunfire. Israeli ships also opened fire on the coast. According to a military source of the publication, more than 20 targets have been hit since the morning attack in Rafah. Arab channels claim that Israel struck a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
In turn, Hamas rejected the accusations of violating the deal with Israel.«The police forces in Gaza, with broad public support, are fulfilling their national duty by pursuing armed groups and holding them accountable according to existing laws to protect residents and their property», — reads the official statement of the terrorist group.
The day before, the US State Department reported on X that Hamas is violating the ceasefire by committing atrocities against Gaza's civilians.
As writes The Jerusalem Post, Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, after the shooting incident in Gaza, demanded that Benjamin Netanyahu resume military actions there.
The Prime Minister will convene an emergency meeting this evening to discuss Israel's response to the Hamas attack on Israeli soldiers, as well as the terrorist group's refusal to return most of the remaining killed hostages, a representative of one of the ministers participating in the meeting told The Times of Israel.