Israel Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Gaza Following Hamas Ceasefire Breach

The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel encountered a significant challenge on Sunday, as both parties engaged in exchanges of fire and leveled accusations against each other for breaching the truce.

According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared on the social media platform X, Israel launched strikes on “dozens of Hamas terror targets” in what it described as a response to Hamas’s “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement this morning.”

The IDF detailed that their strikes targeted “weapons storage facilities, firing posts, terrorist cells, and additional Hamas terror infrastructure,” and that they had “struck and dismantled” around 6 kilometers of “underground terrorist infrastructure.”

In a separate statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that two Israeli soldiers lost their lives due to a Hamas attack in Rafah.

Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of several ceasefire breaches, asserting that communication with its units in Rafah had been severed for months. They further stated, “We are not responsible for any incidents occurring in those areas,” as reported by The Associated Press.

Israel said it resumed enforcement of the ceasefire later Sunday.

“In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, and following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire, in line with the terms of the agreement,” the IDF said in a statement.

“The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it.”

An Israeli security official said the transfer of aid into Gaza was halted briefly on Sunday but that aid deliveries would resume on Monday.