Ceasefire at risk as Israeli forces strike Rafah again
Photo: Israel strikes Rafah after Hamas accuses it of violating agreements (facebook.com tzahalonline)
The Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip following accusations by the IDF that Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreements, reports Ynet.
Today, October 19, the IDF accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreements, while Hamas denied the accusations.
Arab media are reporting a shootout in Rafah, though no details are available at this time.
Palestinians reported shelling of IDF engineering equipment in the Rafah area, and in response, the Air Force struck the area. Palestinians also claimed that Navy ships opened intense fire along the coastline.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and the military secretary left a government meeting to assess the situation.
The military correspondent for the Walla news portal, Amir Bohbot, wrote that Hamas emerged from underground tunnels and is trying to recover abandoned weapons, despite the agreement to disarm the group in accordance with the plan of US President Donald Trump.
Sources in the IDF confirm an increase in clashes with militants along the border and near the coastline, including warning fire and airstrikes.
Military sources in the IDF’s southern command confirm that over the past two days, there has been a sharp increase in clashes with Hamas militants and the Palestinian population along the yellow line on the Gaza border and near the Gaza coast.
The military claims that Hamas, contrary to the agreement, seeks to take control of the border area, regain its freedom of action, and show that it has survived and is regaining its strength.
Earlier today, Washington warned the countries guaranteeing the Gaza ceasefire about a possible Hamas attack. The United States noted that such actions could disrupt the fragile peace process.
The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt remains a point of tension.
Israel suspended its operation indefinitely, stating that reopening would only be possible after Hamas hands over the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages — underscoring the fragility of the agreements reached and the complexity of the humanitarian situation in the region.
The Israeli government is facing a potential political crisis after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced the possibility of withdrawing from the coalition.
