Hamas denied it, but an Israeli source says it is"clear" that the terror organization is responsible for violating the ceasefire in Rafah - with 3 incidents involving sniper fire and anti-tank fire by terrorists who emerged from a tunnel where they were "trapped." Deaths in bombings in the central camps - which Israel was wary of hitting throughout the war because live hostages were being held there. A security source assures that the ceasefire will not collapse:"There is a violation, and there is the punishment. The US has been informed."

Itamar Eichner, Yoav Zeiton, Einav Halabi|

The Gaza Strip is reporting this afternoon (Sunday) the continuation of the Israeli attacks following the unusual incidents this morning in the Rafah area – in which terrorists violated the ceasefire and, among other things, fired on an IDF engineering vehicle. Alongside attacks in the south of the Strip, in Rafah and Khan Yunis, the Palestinians are also reporting bombings and deaths in the central camps – the same communities where many live hostages were held throughout the war, and which were therefore largely “immune” to IDF attacks.

The central camps are no longer “immune”. The bombings in Al-Bureij (Photo: Eyad BABA / AFP)

(Photo: Eyad BABA / AFP)

The wave of attacks in Khan Yunis

Unlike other cities in the Gaza Strip that were destroyed in the war, most of the buildings in the central camps remained intact. Throughout the war, there were no ground military maneuvers in the central camps, but now, after the release of all the hostages alive, this immunity has been effectively lifted. According to the Palestinians, the bombings in the central Gaza Strip occurred, among other places, in al-Marazi, a-Zawadiya, Nusayrat, and al-Bureij, and it is claimed that a total of 11 people were killed in all the attacks in recent hours. The AP reported, citing Hamas Health Ministry officials, that one of the attacks hit a"makeshift cafe" in a-Zawadiya, and that six were killed in the attack there.

A short time later, shortly before 6:00 PM, the Palestinians reported additional attacks in the southern Gaza Strip, with a"belt of fire" in Khan Yunis. An IDF spokesman said that he was attacking there and said:"The IDF, led by the Southern Command, has now begun a wave of attacks against terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization in the southern Gaza Strip, following the violation of a ceasefire agreement earlier today." As part of the attacks, the IDF also attacked a tunnel that Hamas had previously used to hold hostages.

Following the serious incidents, which included firing at an engineering vehicle, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a situation assessment with the IDF's top brass to examine the response measures against Hamas, and his office reported that"following Hamas's violation of the ceasefire, Netanyahu has ordered strong action against terror targets in the Gaza Strip." Defense Minister Yisrael Katz also promised a strong response, but in his statement he also signaled that Israel does not intend to bring about the collapse of the agreement, and emphasized that the reactions will intensify"if the message is not understood."

Anti-tank gunfire and sniper fire: 3 incidents in Rafah, simultaneously

A security source confirmed this afternoon that Israel does not intend to bring about the collapse of the ceasefire:"A ceasefire does not need rescuing. This is not a response that dismantles the agreement. Therefore, there is no concern for the agreement," he said."This is not a blowup of the agreement. This is cause and effect. There is a violation - there is punishment. Israel informed the US in advance before the attack." The prime minister's spokeswoman for foreign media also emphasized that Israel still sees itself as committed to the agreement, with in the background Minister Bezalel Smotrich's"War!" tweet and Minister Itamar Bar Gvir's demand to return to intense fighting.

Gaza residents flee after one of the attacks in Al-Bureij, this afternoon (Photo: Eyad BABA / AFP)

(Photo: Eyad BABA / AFP)

From the details known so far, it appears that three shooting incidents occurred simultaneously this morning in the same area in Rafah. Terrorists who emerged from a tunnel in Rafah around 10:30 AM, after apparently being"trapped" in it, fired anti-tank missiles at an engineering vehicle. Shortly thereafter, other terrorists carried out sniper fire at another engineering vehicle. Minutes later, terrorists fired again using sniper weapons at forces in the area. Immediately after the incidents, the Air Force attacked - but mainly to isolate the scene - and the Palestinians also claimed that the Navy opened fire towards the coast.

In the wake of Hamas's statement denying any connection to the events, an Israeli source who spoke to Reuters this afternoon said:"It is clear that Hamas carried out attacks against Israeli forces." CNN quoted a source familiar with the details as saying that the incidents occurred beyond the "Yellow Line," meaning the territory that remained under IDF control in the Gaza Strip after the withdrawal that was completed on October 10, when the ceasefire went into effect.

The IDF spokesman in Arabic, Lieutenant Colonel Avichai Edraei, republished this afternoon the map of the Yellow Line with the areas under IDF control, and called on residents remaining in these areas to evacuate:"Following repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement, and the criminal attack carried out by Hamas terrorists this morning, the IDF will respond with great force against the terror infrastructure and Hamas terrorists. The IDF once again warns, for your safety and in light of the attacks, to remain beyond the Yellow Line only. The area marked in red is a dangerous combat zone! Anyone still in this area is required to evacuate immediately to the west."

Map of the Yellow Line in Gaza published by the IDF Spokesperson in Arabic: "Do not be in the red area!" (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

Attack on Al-Marazi Camp in Central Gaza

The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, denied any connection to the incidents in Rafah:"We are committed to everything that was agreed upon, including a ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip. We deny any knowledge of events or battles in the Rafah area, and make it clear that Rafah is a red zone under the control of IDF forces, and communication with what remains of our forces has been cut off since the war resumed in March of this year." The statement also claimed that Hamas "has no connection to the events, and there is no possibility of communicating with the fighters there and knowing whether they are alive." The terrorist organization later issued another statement in which it said that it had "located" a kidnapped civilian today, and that it intended to hand him over to Israel -"if the conditions on the ground permit."

The previous violations, and the restrictions on opening fire

The day before yesterday, there was already the first significant violation of the ceasefire, a week after it began – in two incidents in which armed terrorists emerged from tunnels towards IDF forces, in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Several of those terrorists were eliminated. An IDF spokesman said at the time that"in Khan Yunis, a number of terrorists were identified who emerged from a hole in the city's southern Gaza Strip area. They approached the forces in a way that posed an immediate threat to them. The terrorists were attacked from the air to eliminate the threat, in accordance with the agreement."

Since the ceasefire, IDF forces in the buffer zones have been subject to heavy restrictions on opening fire orders. Firing is only permitted to remove suspects near them or for precise shooting provided that an armed terrorist has approached the defender and posed a threat to the forces. In any other scenario, such as remotely identifying Hamas militants, by sight, with binoculars, a drone or a UAV, IDF forces are prohibited from firing at them. This is despite the fact that 7,000 Hamas operatives have already been redeployed throughout the Gaza Strip to reimpose authority over the local population that returned to their neighborhoods in cities and towns after the IDF withdrawal.

IDF forces in Gaza. Heavy restrictions on opening fire (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

As part of US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan, the second phase – on which there is still no agreement between Israel and Hamas – is supposed to include further IDF withdrawals, beyond the Yellow Line. According to the plan, the IDF is supposed to gradually transfer territories to the control of a future international force that will be established and will be responsible for demilitarizing the Strip. In recent days, there have been reports of international talks surrounding the establishment of this force, including an attempt to advance it through a resolution in the UN Security Council.

According to reports, the mediators are also discussing sending an initial force of about 1,000 Palestinian police trained in Egypt and Jordan, with the aim of helping to enforce security in Gaza – where in recent days there have been battles between Hamas and the clans, and even massacres of opponents of the terrorist organization. Egypt hopes that the force will eventually reach about 10,000 people – but Israel, which refuses the presence of the Palestinian Authority in the Strip, is expected to oppose this.

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