- Israeli troops came under fire in Rafah and responded
- Hamas announced it would delay handing over the body of another hostage
- Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants during an operation near Jenin
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to launch immediate “powerful strikes” in Gaza, further straining the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the directive followed renewed clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in southern Gaza, and after Hamas returned the remains of a hostage — an act Israel condemned as a “clear violation” of the truce agreement.
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Shortly after the order, Israeli troops came under fire in Rafah and responded, underscoring the growing instability of the ceasefire that began on October 10. The truce has already endured multiple violations, including deadly exchanges earlier this month.
Hamas, in reaction to Israel’s renewed strikes, announced it would delay handing over the body of another hostage. The group claimed difficulties locating remains due to widespread destruction in Gaza, while Israel accused it of deliberate delay tactics.
The returned remains were later identified as Ofir Tzarfati, one of the hostages abducted during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants during an operation near Jenin, describing them as participants in “terror activity.” Hamas identified two of the men as members of its Qassam Brigades.
The Gaza war, now in its second year, has claimed more than 68,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry — figures Israel disputes but has not countered with its own data.
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