The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had launched new strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, after earlier reporting shelling in the Rafah area in response to attacks by “Hamas“. The Palestinian movement denied attacking Israeli forces, AFP reported.
“In response to the flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement“, the Israeli army “launched a series of strikes against “Hamas“ terrorist targets in the southern Gaza Strip“, the IDF said in a statement, while Israel and “Hamas“ accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which came into effect on 10 October.
According to an AFP journalist, the second wave of strikes today were carried out in the eastern part of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials from across the political spectrum have called for renewed fighting against “Hamas“ after the terror group violated a ceasefire with an attack on Israeli soldiers in Rafah, the Israeli news agency TPS reported.
In what may have been an attempt to kidnap soldiers, “Hamas“ fired an anti-tank missile at an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vehicle, prompting Israeli air strikes.
“Hamas“ will learn the hard way today that the Israel Defense Forces are determined to protect their soldiers and prevent any danger to them. We have instructed the IDF to act decisively against Hamas' terrorist targets in Gaza. "Hamas will pay a high price for every shooting and violation of the ceasefire, and if the message is not understood, the intensity of the reactions will increase," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with senior security officials before ordering decisive action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, his office said.
"The Hamas attack in Gaza requires a decisive response. Only in this way can the rules of the game be determined," wrote Yair Golan, chairman of the opposition Democratic Party, in "Ex".
"A complete victory in the Gaza Strip requires building a moderate alternative to the rule of “Hamas“, an issue that the government has neglected, choosing complete failure“, he added.
Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order an immediate return to large-scale military operations.
“I call on the prime minister to order the Israeli army to resume full-scale fighting in the Strip with full force“, wrote in “Ex“ Ben-Gvir, leader of the right-wing “Otzma Yehudit“ party.
“The false belief that “Hamas“ would change its ways or even abide by the signed agreement has, unsurprisingly, proven dangerous to our security“, Ben-Gvir stressed.
He described “Hamas“ as a Nazi terrorist organization that must be completely destroyed, the sooner the better.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an outspoken critic of the ceasefire who voted against the deal, wrote in “Ex“ a one-word op-ed: “War!“
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the right-wing opposition party “Yisrael Beitenu“, described the reaction as a test of strength.
“There is only one language spoken in the Middle East - that of strength. A true policy of “Iron Wall“ -zero breaches, zero tolerance“, he wrote, accusing “Hamas“ of testing the limits, playing games and delaying the return of bodies of the dead hostages.
Voices from the moderate right-wing political spectrum have issued similar warnings. The Reservists Party, recently formed by Yoaz Hendel, said Israel must abandon what it called "outdated concepts" of smaller armies and a misguided belief in deterrence.
"If they don't disarm - we will fight and destroy them. If they don't return the fallen - we will go in and take them ourselves. If they violate the ceasefire? We will resume fighting," Hendel said.
Earlier today, the remains of two hostages returned overnight were identified as Ronen Engel and Thai worker Sonthaya Oakharasri.
Fifty-four-year-old Engel was killed by Hamas terrorists on a kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, while protecting his family. His wife Karina and daughters Mika and Yuval were kidnapped and later released during the November ceasefire agreement. In December 2023, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Ronen had been killed and that his body was in Gaza.
Oakharashri was kidnapped from the orchards of Kibbutz Beeri, where he worked, and was subsequently killed by “Hamas“. Israel declared 30-year-old Oakharashri dead based on intelligence in May 2024. He is survived by his seven-year-old daughter.
Also today, Israel held a farewell ceremony for Bipin Joshi at “Ben-Gurion“ Airport, before his body was transported to his home in Nepal. Twenty-three-year-old Joshi was taken hostage by Kibbutz Alumim and killed in Gaza.
More than 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were captured by “Hamas“ during the attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The bodies of 16 more hostages remain in Gaza.