Israel has launched an attack in Gaza after claiming Hamas violated the Donald Trump-brokered peace deal.
The Israeli military said Hamas terrorists carried out ‘multiple attacks’ beyond the ‘yellow line’ buffer zone, including a rocket-propelled grenade and sniper fire, calling it a ‘blatant violation’ of the ceasefire.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas.
Israeli airstrikes have hit Rafah in southern Gaza while strikes have been reported elsewhere in southern Gaza and in the city of Jabalia in the north of the territory.
The strikes were in response to ‘terror operatives in the Gaza Strip launching an attack on Israeli forces in Rafah,’ The Times of Israel reported.
The Israeli military said on Friday that ‘several terrorists’ had opened fire on soldiers in the Rafah area, causing no injuries.
The IDF later said it struck another group of ‘terrorists’ that were approaching troops in Khan Younis on the same day.
The military would continue to operate to remove immediate threats, it added.
It comes after the US warned that Hamas is planning an ‘imminent’ attack on civilians in Gaza in a ‘direct and grave’ breach of the ceasefire deal.
It said it had informed fellow mediating countries Qatar, Turkey and Egypt of a ‘credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.’
‘This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,’ the US State Department said.
The US did not provide further details of the attack or how it would constitute a breach of the ceasefire.
Hamas denied planning an attack and accused Israel of supporting rival militias in Gaza.
Hamas, who will have no role in governing Gaza under the US plan, have already recalled 7,000 members of its security forces following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave last week.
This is a breaking news story.
Israel has launched an attack in Gaza after claiming Hamas violated the Donald Trump-brokered peace deal. (Hamas gunmen pictured on October 15)
