TEL AVIV: Israel announced on Sunday that the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza has been suspended “until further notice”, as fighting flared in the south despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire aimed at ending more than two years of war.
Israeli forces carried out air and artillery strikes after reporting that their troops had come under attack by Hamas fighters in Rafah. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 14 Palestinians were killed in the latest wave of violence.
An Egyptian official involved in the mediation efforts said urgent talks were ongoing with all parties to ease tensions and prevent the collapse of the truce. The official, who spoke anonymously, said Cairo is in constant communication with both Israel and Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to respond “forcefully” to any breach of the agreement but refrained from explicitly threatening a full return to war.
The Israeli military said that militants opened fire on troops stationed in areas of Rafah currently under Israeli control under the ceasefire arrangements. While no soldiers were injured, the army said it carried out retaliatory airstrikes and artillery fire in response.
Hamas, meanwhile, denied involvement in the incidents, stating it had lost contact with its fighters in Rafah months ago and could not be held accountable for actions there.
Series of Airstrikes Reported
Just before sunset, the Israeli military said it launched a new wave of strikes in southern Gaza, claiming to target Hamas positions.
In Zawaida, central Gaza, a strike on a makeshift coffeehouse killed six people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Another attack hit a tent near the Al-Ahly soccer club in Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least two and injuring eight, medical officials at Al-Awda Hospital said.
Four people died when a school sheltering displaced families in Nuseirat was struck.
One person was killed at a charging station west of Nuseirat, and another was killed in Muwasi, Khan Younis, after a tent was hit, according to Nasser Hospital.
An Israeli military spokesperson told reporters there had been three incidents throughout the day two in southern Gaza and one in the north and added that more information would follow as assessments continued.
