Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to launch an immediate “powerful attack” on the Gaza Strip, in response to which Hamas announced it would delay returning the body of a hostage. This development is being seen as a new challenge for the US-mediated ceasefire. Associated Press journalists and eyewitnesses heard gunfire and explosions in various parts of Gaza City and Deir al-Balah.
Netanyahu ordered another attack on Gaza shortly after the army was informed that Hamas had fired on Israeli forces in southern Gaza. Earlier, tensions between the two sides rose when Netanyahu said the remains of a hostage returned by Hamas overnight were the remains of a hostage seized by Israeli forces in Gaza nearly two years ago.
Netanyahu called the return of the remains a “clear violation” of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return the bodies of all Israeli hostages as soon as possible. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Hamas “will pay a heavy price for violating the agreement to attack Israeli soldiers in Gaza and return the remains of the hostages.”
An AP reporter heard gunfire and explosions in Deir al-Balah. This area is controlled by Israeli soldiers. Two health officials in Gaza City also confirmed hearing explosions in other areas, including the area near Shifa Hospital. Another sign that the ceasefire was under threat came on Tuesday when Israeli soldiers were fired upon in the southern city of Rafah. After this, Israeli forces also retaliated.
In a statement, Hamas denied any involvement in the shooting in Rafah and reiterated its commitment to a ceasefire. The bodies of 13 hostages still remain in Gaza, and the slow process of handing over their remains is posing challenges to implementing the next phases of the ceasefire. Hamas has said it is struggling to locate the bodies amid heavy destruction in Gaza, while Israel has accused the extremist group of deliberately delaying the return of the bodies. A ceasefire was signed between Israel and Hamas on October 10.