Israel bombing this Sunday the city of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Stripafter an alleged attack by Hamas militiamen against Israeli troops. The crossfire raised alarm bells about a possible ceasefire breaking that governs from October 10 in the Middle East.
So far, the Israel Defense Forces have not officially confirmed the attacks nor have any fatalities or injuries been reported.
The United States warned about a violation of the ceasefire
The United States Government, a key mediator in the peace process, warned on Saturday that it had “credible information” which indicated that Hamas planned “an imminent violation” of the ceasefire through an attack against Palestinian civilians.
According to witnesses and local media, Israeli planes carried out two bombing raids in southern Gaza after clashes in Rafah, a city bordering Egypt that remains under Israeli control. A military officer accused the Islamist movement of attacking the forces with a sniper and a grenade launcher. “This is a flagrant violation of the ceasefire”he declared to the AFP agency.
The Hamas version and its defense to the United States
A source from the armed wing of Hamas cited by EFE indicated that the group had begun an operation in Rafah to eliminate Yasser Abu Shabableader of the rival militia “Popular Forces”. The intervention of Israeli soldiers in support of Shabab unleashed cross attacks and caused the explosion of a military excavator.
Hamas rejected Washington’s accusations and blamed Israel for arming and financing the militias it claimed carried out. “murders, kidnappings, robberies of aid trucks and robberies against civilians.” He also assured that his police officers, “with broad civil and popular support,” pursue the gangs “according to clear legal mechanisms, to protect citizens and preserve public and private property.”
Hamas leader Izzat al Rishq (Palestinian spokesperson) stated on Telegram: “The Zionist occupation continues to violate the agreement and seek unfounded pretexts to justify its crimes. “(Israel Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to evade and renege on his commitments come under pressure from his extremist and terrorist coalition.”
Radical ministers demand resuming the offensive
Within the Israeli government, the toughest sectors demanded an immediate response. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted a single word on his X account: “War”.
For his part, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged Netanyahu to “fully resume fighting in the Gaza Strip in full force” and warned that “false assumptions that Hamas will abide by the signed agreement are proving dangerous for our security.”
The new airstrike in Rafah threatens to collapse the fragile ceasefire and revives instability in the Middle East, just when international mediators sought to maintain dialogue to avoid a new escalation of war.
Source: Ambito
