Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered immediate and powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after an Israeli military official told Fox News that Hamas violated the ceasefire by attacking IDF soldiers in Raf. The official said the terrorist group attacked Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in Rafah. Following the security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military echelon to carry out immediate and powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to his office.
Hamas responded by stating that it will delay the handover of a hostage body, according to The Associated Press. The decision follows the killing of two IDF soldiers in an attack earlier this month in Rafah, where the IDF confirmed that a militant cell had emerged from a tunnel and attacked an excavation vehicle, leading to the deaths of Major Yaniv Kula and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz. Both soldiers were based in Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut and were part of the 932nd Battalion of the Nahal Brigade.
The IDF responded by launching air and ground strikes across southern Gaza, which included the destruction of six kilometers of underground terrorist infrastructure using over 120 munitions. The IDF stated that the underground site was used by Hamas to advance attacks against Israel. The incident has reignited tensions, with the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, now under strain following these actions by Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hamas has also delayed the handover of a hostage body, whose remains were recovered nearly two years ago, indicating the group’s continued defiance of the ceasefire terms. As the conflict continues, Israeli military sources have not yet provided detailed information on the most recent incident, leaving the situation in Gaza on edge amid ongoing hostilities.