Israel launches deadly strikes on Gaza in first major truce violation
Hamas affirms commitment to US-brokered cease-fire deal
A fragile Gaza cease-fire edged close to total collapse on Sunday after Israel launched new deadly airstrikes across Gaza on the pretext of Palestinian attacks on its troops, in the first major violation of the cease-fire meant to halt more than two years of war.
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and its military wing al-Qassam Brigades in the Gaza Strip on Sunday affirmed their commitments to the US-brokered cease-fire agreement, stressing that the regime continues to breach the agreement and fabricate flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consulted with Israel’s security heads and directed the military to take “strong action” against any cease-fire violations, but did not threaten to return to war.
Israel’s military claimed that Hamas fighters shot at troops in areas of the southern Gaza city of Rafah that are Israeli-controlled according to agreed-upon cease-fire lines. No injuries were reported.
Hamas, which continued to accuse Israel of multiple cease-fire violations, said that it wasn’t connected to any clashes in Rafah.
“We reaffirm our full commitment to implementing all agreed-upon terms, especially the cease-fire across all areas of the Gaza Strip. We have no knowledge of any incidents or clashes taking place in the Rafah area, as it is part of the red zones under the occupation’s control”, the statement by the al-Qassam Brigades said.
“Communication has been completely cut off with the remaining units of ours there since the resumption of the war in March of this year. We have no information on whether they have been martyred or are still alive since that time”.
Gaza’s civil defense agency said a number of Israeli air raids killed at least 11 Palestinians in the coastal enclave on Sunday. Despite the cease-fire in place since October 10, Israel has launched many attacks in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 50 people throughout the strip.
Hamas resistance movement also rejected a statement from the US State Department, in which it cited “credible reports” claiming the Palestinian group would imminently violate the cease-fire deal.
Hamas said the US allegations were false and “fully align with the misleading Israeli propaganda and provide cover for the continuation of the occupation’s crimes and organized aggression” against the Palestinians in Gaza.
Page 2