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Israel announces immediate 'strong attacks' on Gaza

Israel is launching an immediate series of "strong attacks" on the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced after reports of an attack on Israeli troops.

The government made this decision after Israel's defense leadership met on Tuesday to discuss"sanctions" in response to what Israel considers violations of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. According to sources close to the government who spoke to Reuters, the possibility of occupying a larger portion of Gaza was discussed, among other things. Israel previously withdrew to the so-called yellow line, one of the agreements in the US plan for Gaza.

Israeli media previously reported that violence in the region had flared up after an attack on Israeli troops in southern Gaza. Israel reportedly responded to shelling by Israeli soldiers with artillery fire.

Netanyahu has previously accused Hamas of"gross violations" of the ceasefire agreement. For example, earlier this week the Palestinian group allegedly handed over the remains of the wrong deceased hostage. Israel also accused Hamas of staging the recovery of the deceased hostages. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released alleged video evidence supporting this claim earlier on Tuesday. It shows an excavator dumping a white object into a hole.

10 minutes ago

Hamas denies involvement in attack on Israeli troops

Following Israeli airstrikes, Hamas has emphasized its commitment to the Gaza peace deal. The Palestinian movement also denied involvement in an attack on Israeli troops in Rafah in a statement.

In Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported that soldiers came under fire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later announced that he had ordered further"strong strikes."

Following that announcement, reports emerged from the Gaza Strip of Israeli shelling and airstrikes. According to local authorities, these killed at least two civilians. A house was reportedly hit.

Israel accuses Hamas of failing to comply with the agreements in US President Donald Trump's peace plan. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the movement will pay a high price.

Today 6:02 PM

Witnesses reported airstrikes on Gaza

Israel has begun carrying out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities in Gaza and witnesses to international news agencies, Al Jazeera, and Israeli media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier on Tuesday that he would resume attacks on Gaza. He claims Hamas has violated the ceasefire. Palestinian fighters reportedly fired on Israeli troops earlier in the day. Defense Minister Israel Katz called this a"red line" and said that Hamas will "pay a heavy price."

The Gaza Civil Defense Service reports at least three airstrikes. Al Jazeera reports that a large explosion occurred at al-Shifa Hospital, among other locations.

Hamas considers the new Israeli attacks a violation of the ceasefire. The Palestinian movement has therefore postponed the handover of a hostage's body.

Today 17:28

Netanyahu wants more Gaza under Israeli control

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the army to occupy a larger portion of the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media outlets such as The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post. Before the ceasefire took effect, troops had withdrawn to the so-called yellow line, but Netanyahu has reportedly now decided to expand the Israeli presence in Gaza.

The prime minister previously announced plans to launch new"forceful attacks" on Gaza, claiming Hamas has violated the ceasefire. He is now reportedly also consulting with the United States about seizing more territory in Gaza. The media reports have not yet been confirmed by Netanyahu's office.

Israel currently maintains a presence in roughly half of the Gaza Strip. According to the US's 20-point plan, Israeli troops are expected to withdraw further in later phases of the ceasefire and ultimately leave the Palestinian territory entirely.

Today 16:53

Hamas postpones transfer of body after announcement of Israel attack

Hamas says it is postponing the handover of a hostage's body because Israel has announced new"powerful attacks" on the Gaza Strip. Hamas announced earlier that the return would take place on Tuesday.

The Palestinian movement claims that Israel is violating the ceasefire by announcing new attacks."An escalation will hinder the search, exhumation and recovery of the bodies," Hamas wrote in a statement.

Israel, however, said Hamas had failed to honor the agreements. Earlier in the day, shelling reportedly took place in southern Gaza. Furthermore, Israel believes Hamas is not rushing to return all the deceased hostages. According to Hamas, some of them are buried under the rubble of buildings bombed by Israel and it is difficult to find them quickly.

Today 15:02

Hamas says it will hand over another hostage's body on Tuesday

The armed wing of Hamas said it would hand over the body of a deceased hostage to Israel at 7:00 PM Dutch time. According to the al-Qassam Brigades, the body was recently recovered from a tunnel.

Earlier in the day, Israel said Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreement after the militant group handed over the partial remains of a hostage it had already returned to Israel. Part of the agreement in the US 20-point plan was the handover of all hostages (including dead ones) within 72 hours.

If Hamas does hand over a body, it will be the sixteenth of the 28 hostages it has yet to hand over.

Today 11:43

Netanyahu: Hamas violates ceasefire with handover of remains

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement by transferring human remains. The remains belong to a hostage whom the military had previously rescued from the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu's office reported. Israeli media also reported on this Tuesday morning.

"After completing the identification process, it was revealed this morning that the remains of fallen hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who was returned in a military operation some two years ago, were returned last night," Netanyahu wrote on X.

Netanyahu calls it a"clear violation" of the agreements with Hamas. A meeting with top defense officials is planned"to discuss Israeli steps in response to the violations." The tweet does not specify exactly which agreements were violated. The 20-point plan stipulated that all hostages, including the dead, had to be handed over within 72 hours.

Today 08:28

Israel Media: Remains of previously buried hostage handed over

The human remains Hamas handed over to Israel on Monday belong to a hostage whose remains had already been handed over, according to Israeli media. That person is buried in Israel. Forensic analysis suggests there is no match for the thirteen deceased hostages still in Gaza.

It is not stated which hostage the remains belong to. The Jerusalem Post reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold consultations on Tuesday about Israel's response.

The country previously reacted angrily to the failure to return the last hostages. Hamas is required to hand over all the bodies as part of a ceasefire, but says it will take time to find and exhume the bodies. Israel believes Hamas knows where the bodies are.