Israeli Airstrikes and Ceasefire Tensions in Gaza

In a statement, it was clarified that the airstrikes targeted the removal of threats, destroying several tunnel openings and military buildings where activities of elements described as terrorist were observed. The statement noted that the response came after engineering vehicles were fired upon with anti-armor projectiles during the destruction of the infrastructure belonging to armed elements, affirming that “any breach of the ceasefire agreement will be met with a strong response.” Earlier today, the Israeli Air Force launched an attack in southern Gaza following an exchange of fire between the army and Palestinians. Israeli media reported that the bombing followed an explosion in an Israeli military vehicle, indicating that six Israeli soldiers were injured in the security incident south of Gaza. It was clarified that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security meeting to discuss the response to the ceasefire violation in Gaza.” For its part, the Palestinian Hamas movement confirmed today, Sunday, that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to evade and deny his commitments come under the pressure of his extremist coalition.” Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq, in a statement, said that “the movement is committed to the ceasefire agreement,” emphasizing that “Israel continues to breach the agreement and fabricate flimsy excuses to justify its crimes.” Al-Rishq added that “Netanyahu is trying to escape his responsibilities before the mediators and guarantors,” as he put it. Last Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump, his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a declaration regarding the ceasefire in Gaza. Under the agreement, the Hamas movement released all twenty hostages who had been held in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, in exchange for Israel releasing 1,718 detainees from Gaza and 250 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.