Israel accuses Hamas of breaching ceasefire, reportedly attacks Gaza

Israel accused Hamas on Sunday of violating the ceasefire by carrying out attacks on its forces in Gaza, while Hamas accused Israel of working to “fabricate flimsy pretexts” for its own actions.

Israeli and Palestinian media reported that the IDF carried out airstrikes in southern Gaza early Sunday, in what would be its first such attacks since the start of the truce that halted its assault on the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Two Palestinian eyewitnesses told AFP that fighting erupted in part of the southern city of Rafah still under Israeli control, followed by two air strikes.

NBC News has not verified the reports, and the Israeli military did not confirm the strikes.

An Israeli military official subsequently accused Hamas of a “bold violation of the ceasefire” with incidents including a rocket-propelled grenade attack and a sniper attack against Israeli forces.

“Hamas carried out multiple attacks against Israeli forces beyond the yellow line,” the Israeli military official said, referring to the area where its military is now positioned inside Gaza under the first phase of the ceasefire.

Izzat Al-Rishq, a senior member of Hamas‘ political wing, said the group “affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement,” accusing Israel of violating the agreement and working to “fabricate flimsy pretexts” to evade its responsibilities.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on October 10, when the group agreed to release all Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees under the first phase of a deal brokered by the United States.

Both sides have accused the other of violating the terms of the deal.

Israel says Hamas is delaying the release of the bodies of hostages held inside Gaza, while Hamas says it will take time to search for and recover remains.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister who opposed the ceasefire, called Sunday for the IDF to “resume the fighting in the Gaza Strip at full strength.”

The ceasefire also includes the ramping up of aid into Gaza, where the world’s leading authority on hunger has declared a famine in some areas.

Israel’s military informed the U.N. last week that it would halve the amount of aid trucks expected to enter Gaza, and on Saturday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt would remain closed “until further notice,” citing the hostage dispute.

There have been flashes of violence within Gaza during the ceasefire, marked by at least one public execution and Hamas clashes with rival factions as the militant group tried to reassert control amid the ceasefire in the war-torn territory.

On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State said in a post on social media that there had been “credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.” Hamas rejected the suggestion.