Netanyahu Orders Military Strikes in Gaza After Accusing Hamas of Violating Ceasefire

📷REUTERS

Riyadh, October 28 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he had ordered the military to “carry out powerful attacks” in the Gaza Strip after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian territory.

A statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office did not specify details about the planned strikes. However, an Israeli military official said Hamas had breached the ceasefire by attacking Israeli forces in an area under Israeli control, calling it “another blatant violation.”

Netanyahu earlier alleged that Hamas had violated the agreement by turning over the wrong remains during the process of returning hostages’ bodies to Israel.

Hamas initially said it would hand over to Israel the body of a missing hostage found in a tunnel in Gaza but later postponed the transfer, citing what it called Israel’s violations of the ceasefire terms.

Israeli media reported exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in Rafah, in southern Gaza, though the Israeli military has not commented.

In a statement, Hamas denied violating the truce and accused Netanyahu of “seeking pretexts to withdraw from Israel’s obligations.”

A U.S.-backed ceasefire remains formally in effect between Israel and Hamas, though both sides have accused each other of violations. Under the agreement, Hamas released all living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees, while Israel suspended its ground operations and withdrew forces from parts of Gaza.

Hamas had also agreed to return the remains of all deceased hostages. The group said additional time was required to locate the bodies amid widespread destruction in Gaza, while Israel maintains that Hamas has access to most of them.