Israel cuts off Gaza aid in response to Hamas attacks
Israel freezes humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip after new attacks (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Israel has suspended humanitarian deliveries to the Gaza Strip following rocket attacks by Hamas that killed Israeli soldiers and civilians, according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Telegram.
Israel announced that all humanitarian shipments to Gaza have been halted until further notice. The decision comes in response to a ceasefire violation allegedly carried out by Hamas militants, the army said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Hamas militants opened fire on Israeli troops in the southern part of the enclave, killing two soldiers.
In response, Israeli forces carried out a series of airstrikes on dozens of Hamas targets. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is controlled by the group, at least 29 people were killed in the attacks, including children.
Retaliatory strikes on Rafah
The Israeli army accused Hamas of attacking the city of Rafah and stated that the strikes were aimed at neutralizing the threat and destroying terrorist infrastructure. In an official statement, the IDF said:
“Earlier today (Sunday), terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza.”
The military emphasized that such actions constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement and added that the army will act decisively to eliminate any threat.
Later, the IDF reported renewed airstrikes across different areas of the Gaza Strip, targeting weapon depots, firing positions, and underground tunnels. According to the army, about six kilometers of tunnels were destroyed.
Reactions from both sides
Hamas militants denied involvement in the attack, claiming they did not violate the ceasefire agreement. Representatives of the group said they had no information about clashes in the Rafah area, which is currently controlled by Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF and security services to take decisive action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.
The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has once again been closed by Israel’s decision. The Israeli Prime Minister stated that the crossing will not reopen until Hamas returns the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages.
The US has reportedly warned countries guaranteeing the ceasefire in Gaza about a possible Hamas attack, citing intelligence indicating that militants are preparing new operations against civilians - a move that could jeopardize the ongoing peace process.
