The ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas is faltering. The Israeli army reportedly carried out further attacks in the Gaza Strip on Sunday in response to Hamas attacks. According to Palestinian sources, at least 18 people were killed in airstrikes and tank fire in the coastal strip. Israel also again halted the delivery of humanitarian aid to the heavily devastated area. Hamas strongly rejected the Israeli accusations.
After the ceasefire came into effect, aid deliveries were expanded as part of the agreement, with a target of 600 trucks per day. Previously, the blockade of humanitarian supplies had caused a humanitarian catastrophe among the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, according to aid organizations.
According to the Israeli army, terrorists attacked Israeli soldiers in the south and north of the coastal strip, including with rocket-propelled grenades. The incidents occurred east of the"yellow line," behind which Israeli troops had withdrawn as part of the ceasefire. Hamas denied these claims and insisted it was not behind the attacks.
Izzat al-Rishek, a member of the Hamas political bureau, accused Israel in a statement of violating the ceasefire and fabricating"flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes." He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to shirk his obligations to the mediators because he was under pressure from right-wing coalition partners.
Around 20 targets in the Gaza Strip bombed
According to TV station N12, the Israeli Air Force bombed around 20 targets in the Gaza Strip. An airstrike in Deir al-Balah, in the center of the Gaza Strip, killed four Palestinians and injured five others, according to medical sources.
"This morning, terrorists fired anti-tank missiles and opened fire on IDF soldiers," the Israeli army said. The attack was responded to with airstrikes by fighter jets and artillery fire. The attacks were intended to eliminate a threat, it added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to take full force against"terror targets in the Gaza Strip." Netanyahu's office said the prime minister made this decision after consulting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and security officials.
Right-wing extremist ministers call for a return to war
After initial reports of a Hamas attack, Israel's Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Netanyahu to order the army to"resume hostilities in the Gaza Strip completely and with full force. The Nazi terrorist organization must be completely destroyed – and as soon as possible." Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also an ultra-right winger, simply wrote on X:"War!" The two ministers had criticized the ceasefire agreement from the beginning and voted against it.
US negotiators expected in the region
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since October 10. However, there have already been several violent incidents in which Palestinians have been killed.
The ceasefire is part of a peace plan by US President Donald Trump. Israel and Hamas also agreed to an exchange of hostages and prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey also participated in the negotiations. US Vice President J.D. Vance and US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected in Israel this week.
