(Continuous upd) Israel blew the ceasefire in Gaza into the air, as the latest reports from Israeli media speak of an attack by armed terrorists against Israeli forces in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, resulting in Israel launching an airstrike.
The public broadcasting service of Israel, Kan, reported that the air force struck targets in Rafah, while other media mentioned attacks in other parts of southern Gaza and in the city of Djabalya in the northern part of the area.
These reports are accompanied by references to violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas, although there is no official announcement from the Israeli army regarding the exact circumstances and timing of the attack.
False Claims
Hamas remains committed to the ceasefire agreement, as announced shortly after the deadly Israeli bombings.
In its statement, it emphasizes that it “denies these accusations in the announcement of the U.S. Department of State and categorically rejects claims of an ‘imminent attack’ or ‘violation of the ceasefire agreement.’”
Earlier on Sunday, 19/10, it had rejected the claim that it had violated or intended to violate the ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, a statement provided by the U.S. Department of State, citing “reliable information.”
The State Department reported late Saturday, 18/10, that it had “reliable information indicating an imminent violation of the ceasefire by Hamas against the people of Gaza,” emphasizing that such an action would constitute an “immediate and serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute an immediate and serious violation of the agreed ceasefire, undermining the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” the State Department statement says.
“If Hamas launches this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and maintain the integrity of the ceasefire,” the statement emphasizes.
Hamas characterized the claims as false.
Developments in Progress
According to Channel 12, a telephone conference is currently underway regarding the situation between Benjamin Netanyahu, the far-right Defense Minister Israel Katz, and senior officials of the Israeli army.
The public broadcasting service of Israel reported that the attack followed an “exchange of fire” with members of Hamas.
The Press Office of the Gaza administration earlier accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with Hamas 47 times since it came into effect in early October, causing the death of 38 Palestinians and injuring another 143.
“These violations include shooting, deliberate bombing, and targeting of civilian populations, as well as the detention of certain civilians, reflecting the ongoing policy of aggression by the occupation despite the agreed end of the war,” the statement says.
Authorities in Gaza called on “the United Nations and the guarantors of the agreement to urgently intervene to force the occupying forces to end their ongoing aggression and protect the unarmed civilian population.”
The Deadliest Violation of the Fragile Ceasefire
According to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian, on Friday (17/10) the deadliest violation of the fragile ceasefire occurred, as eleven members of a Palestinian family were killed by Israeli fire.
The Gaza Civil Defense reported that the family was attempting to reach their home in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City when the bus they were on was attacked because it allegedly crossed the “yellow line,” which demarcates areas controlled by the Israeli army.
“They had crossed the so-called ‘yellow line,’ a fictional boundary mentioned by the Israeli army,” said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza Civil Defense. “I am certain that the family could not distinguish between the yellow and the red line, because there are no real, physical markers on the ground,” he added.
Among the victims were seven children and three women.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that “a suspicious vehicle was identified crossing the yellow line and approaching IDF troops operating in the northern Gaza Strip,” adding: “The troops fired warning shots at the suspicious vehicle, but the vehicle continued to approach the troops in a way that posed an immediate threat to them. The troops opened fire to remove the threat, according to the agreement.”
Israel also accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by not returning the bodies of deceased hostages.
Turkey has deployed dozens of disaster response specialists to assist in the search for bodies under the rubble.
The Gaza Civil Defense estimates that approximately 10,000 people are trapped under the rubble and damaged buildings. As reported, the task the authorities face is enormous, given that there are about 60 million tons of debris across the area.
It is recalled that on Saturday (18/10), the bodies of 15 Palestinians were returned to Gaza, bringing the total number of returned deceased prisoners to 135, as announced by the Ministry of Health. Doctors at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis stated that the bodies showed signs of torture and execution, including covered eyes, bound hands, and gunshot wounds to the head, according to doctors’ testimonies.
It is noted that this new development highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing tension in Gaza, with both sides blaming each other for recent violations.
Hamas Announces Rafah Crossing Closure Will Delay Return of Hostage Bodies
Hamas announced that the closure of the Rafah crossing in the southern sector of the Gaza Strip will delay the return of the bodies of hostages that must be returned to Israel under the ceasefire agreement.
“The extension of the closure of the Rafah crossing (...) blocks the entry of special equipment necessary to locate people who have gone missing under the rubble (...) and will cause significant delays in recovering and returning the bodies,” the statement issued by Hamas said.
Earlier, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that the Rafah crossing, in the southern sector of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt, would remain closed “until further notice.”
The announcement clarifies that the opening of the border crossing with Egypt will be considered based on whether Hamas returns the bodies of the hostages and implements the agreed terms.
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