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Fighting erupts in Gaza as Israel, Hamas trade blame, threatening US-brokered ceasefire


Fighting erupts in Gaza as Israel, Hamas trade blame, threatening US-brokered ceasefire


Israel and Hamas traded blame on Sunday after fresh clashes erupted in southern Gaza, threatening to derail a delicate ceasefire agreement brokered by Donald Trump, United States president  earlier this month.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of firing an anti-tank missile and gunfire at its troops operating in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire deal. The army said it responded with airstrikes to “eliminate the threat” and destroy tunnels and military sites allegedly used by the Palestinian group.

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“Earlier today, terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area,” the army said in a statement. “In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area. These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly.”

The renewed hostilities mark the most serious flare-up since the US-brokered truce took effect on  October 9. The agreement, seen as a major breakthrough in ending the two-year-long war, called for the release of all hostages and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Both sides had initially honoured the deal, exchanging prisoners and the remains of those killed during the conflict.

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But tensions have steadily grown amid mutual accusations of bad faith. Hamas swiftly rejected Israel’s claims on Sunday, dismissing them as “misleading propaganda” and accusing Washington of siding with Tel Aviv.

According to Al Jazeera, Hamas, in a statement said, “The US allegations fully align with Israeli propaganda and provide cover for the continuation of the occupation’s crimes and organised aggression against Palestinians in Gaza.”

The group’s comments followed a warning from the US State Department late on Saturday that it had received “credible reports” suggesting Hamas was preparing an attack on civilians in Gaza, in what would amount to “a grave violation of the ceasefire.”

“Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,” the department said, without elaborating on the nature of the alleged threat.

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Hamas, however, insisted it was Israel that had been undermining the truce, accusing the IDF of dozens of attacks since the ceasefire began. The Gaza Government Media Office claimed nearly 50 Israeli violations had left 38 Palestinians dead and 143 injured. It described Israel’s actions as “flagrant and clear violations of the ceasefire decision and the rules of international humanitarian law.”

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting over Israel’s continued closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt — a key point for humanitarian aid and civilian travel. Palestinian officials say Israel’s refusal to reopen the crossing violates the ceasefire terms and worsens the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Rawhi Fattouh, president of the Palestinian National Council, called on the international community to deploy peacekeeping forces in Gaza to protect civilians and ensure the ceasefire is upheld.

 



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