Israel strikes southern Gaza, says Hamas carried out “bold violation” of ceasefire

Israel launched a series of airstrikes and artillery attacks on southern Gaza early on Sunday, accusing Hamas of breaching the U.S.-mediated ceasefire that came into effect on October 11.

Explosions and gunfire were reported in Rafah and the nearby town of Abassan in the east of Khan Younis, while an airstrike in the northern Gaza area of Jabalia killed two Palestinians, according to local reports.

The Israeli military claimed that Hamas fighters had carried out a rocket-propelled grenade attack and sniper fire against Israeli forces in a zone east of the “yellow line” they had withdrawn to, describing the attacks as “a bold violation of the ceasefire.”

Despite the ceasefire deal, Gaza’s media office says Israel has already committed 47 violations, including shelling, gunfire, and arrests, since the truce took hold, resulting in 38 Palestinians dead and 143 wounded.

Hostilities have been building as disputes rage over the return of the remains of deceased hostages and the reopening of the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, which remains shut and is holding up vital aid deliveries to the enclave. A U.S. State Department warning on October 18, citing “credible reports” that Hamas was planning attacks on Palestinian civilians, further heightened tensions.

 Hamas officials categorically denied responsibility for a planned attack and accused Israel of breaching the agreement through repeated bombardments and restrictions on humanitarian access. Amid the increasingly unstable truce, Israeli far-right ministers urged full resumption of combat operations in Gaza, while the humanitarian situation in the south of the Strip grew increasingly dire.

Source: Reuters , ABC (Australia) , France 24 , The Guardian , Al Jazeera , Associated Press , ABC News