A reported explosion and sniper fire in the Rafah area mark a break in the cease-fire as Hamas attacks Israeli troops and the Israel Defense Forces retaliates with airstrikes.
In the early hours Monday, Hamas fighters struck at Israeli forces in the Rafah region of southern Gaza, targeting an IDF bulldozer with either an improvised explosive device or an RPG and subsequently engaging troops with sniper fire, according to preliminary Israeli reports. Following those attacks, the Israel Defense Forces launched air-strikes against terror targets in Rafah and also struck two suspects in northern Gaza’s Jabalia area who reportedly crossed the boundary line.
Israeli officials say this constitutes a clear violation of the existing cease-fire agreement and are convening a high-level security briefing involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military staff to determine the next steps. In a strongly worded statement, they indicated that the government and IDF “will act forcefully to ‘reset the rules’ in Gaza, sending a clear message to Hamas … about the consequences of violating the cease-fire.”
While details remain scant, unconfirmed reports state that the attack targeted a guard post near Rafah and may also have included mortar fire toward Kerem Shalom. The military has dispatched units to secure the blast site and continue investigating the chain of events.
The development raises concerns that the tenuous pause in hostilities may unravel, exposing civilians and troops alike to renewed rounds of violence.