Israel has conducted airstrikes in Gaza, citing alleged violations of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement by Hamas. Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of attacking Israeli soldiers and failing to return the bodies of deceased hostages, actions he described as crossing a “bright red line.” Hamas has denied any connection to the attack and condemned the Israeli strikes as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire.
The Palestinian armed group stated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, but its military wing announced a delay in returning a hostage’s body due to what it termed Israeli “violations.” First responders in Gaza reported that at least nine Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes across the territory, with incidents reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis.
US Vice-President JD Vance commented that the ceasefire is “holding,” acknowledging that minor skirmishes might occur but expressing confidence in the agreement’s stability. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemned a “fake recovery” staged by Hamas, emphasizing the importance of upholding the ceasefire agreement for the sake of anxious families.
The current situation follows earlier tensions when Hamas handed over a coffin containing human remains that did not belong to one of the remaining deceased hostages. Israeli authorities stated that forensic tests identified the remains as belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, whose body was recovered by Israeli forces in late 2023, calling it a clear breach of the deal.
The Israeli military released drone footage it claims shows Hamas operatives staging the discovery of a deceased hostage’s body. Hamas has rejected these claims as “baseless allegations,” accusing Israel of seeking pretexts for further aggression.