The official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that "the Israeli Air Force is currently attacking targets in Rafah, following a clash between occupation forces and Hamas militants." It added that members of the movement opened fire on an Israeli military force, leading to an exchange of fire in the area.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted an Israeli official as saying, "We are preparing to escalate the pace of attacks in the Gaza Strip," while the Israeli army said it had begun launching airstrikes and artillery shelling in the Rafah area to eliminate threats, and that it had destroyed military openings and buildings.
He added, "Militants in Gaza fired anti-tank missiles and opened fire on Israeli forces operating in the Rafah area under the ceasefire agreement."
In its first comment on Sunday, Hamas affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and emphasized Israel's violation of it.
Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq said in a statement, "Hamas affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement," which went into effect on October 10. He continued, "The movement stresses that it is the Zionist occupation that continues to violate the agreement and fabricate flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes."
Martyrs and wounded in Israeli bombing
On Sunday afternoon, Palestinian sources reported that two Palestinians were killed and injured when the occupation forces bombed a group of civilians in the Al-Zawayda area in the central Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza stated that 18 martyrs, including 10 who were recovered as a result of previous shelling and 8 who were directly targeted by the occupation, fell during the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the Israeli aggression to 68,159 martyrs and 170,203 wounded since October 7, 2023.
The ministry announced on Sunday that it had received the bodies of 15 Palestinians from Israel, some of whom bore signs of abuse and beatings. In a statement, the ministry said, "The Ministry of Health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs who were released today by the Israeli occupation and through the Red Cross."
She continued, "This brings the total number of martyrs' bodies received to 150" since the start of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement on October 10.
According to a statement by the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israel violated the agreement 47 times, resulting in the deaths of 38 Palestinians, the injury of 143 others, and the arrest of a number of civilians. The statement called on the US administration and mediators to hold Tel Aviv to the terms of the agreement.
In the same context, Israel's Channel 14 reported that the airstrikes followed an explosion in Rafah before the arrival of an army engineering vehicle, suggesting the blast was likely caused by an anti-tank missile or an explosive device.
In statements via the X platform, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip "at full force," saying, "This Nazi terrorist organization must be completely eliminated, and preferably within an hour."
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Information Center announced the martyrdom of two Palestinians and the injury of others as a result of an Israeli airstrike targeting areas east of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
In Tel Aviv, Israel's Channel 13 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz will hold an urgent situation assessment session following the events in Gaza. The Times of Israel reported that armed elements attacked Israeli forces in Rafah, prompting the military to launch airstrikes. There has been no official comment yet from an Israeli military spokesman.
On October 10, a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect. This agreement is in accordance with US President Donald Trump's plan, which, in addition to a ceasefire, includes a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, a mutual release of prisoners, the immediate entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, and the disarmament of Hamas.
