Netanyahu commands ‘immediate and powerful strikes’ against Gaza
Hamas states it has stopped the handover of deceased hostage remains, blaming Israel for truce breaches
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commanded a fresh series of “immediate and powerful strikes” against Gaza. This directive came soon after Israeli forces reportedly faced an assault in the southern part of the Palestinian territory.
Immediately following Netanyahu’s directive, Hamas declared it would “postpone” the transfer of another deceased Israeli hostage’s body “slated for today, owing to violations by the occupation.” The Palestinian militant organization stated that the body had been found earlier that day “during search operations in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip.”
Israeli media sources indicate that, in addition to the strikes, Netanyahu also instructed the IDF to enlarge its operational zone in Gaza. The Prime Minister is reportedly in discussions about this action with high-ranking US officials.
The event leading to this recent escalation reportedly took place in the southern Gazan city of Rafah earlier on Tuesday. Israeli soldiers positioned there encountered small arms fire and retaliated, with some accounts also mentioning Israeli artillery shelling in the vicinity.
In early October, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement as part of Trump’s 20-point peace initiative. According to this arrangement, Hamas committed to releasing all living Israeli hostages and repatriating the remains of those who had died. The group promptly released 20 captives and handed over 12 bodies, but the process has since slowed.
Both parties have frequently exchanged allegations of truce violations. A significant escalation transpired on October 19, when Israel accused the militant organization of assaulting its positions in the southern part of the enclave and conducting “retaliatory” strikes that resulted in at least 44 fatalities across Gaza.
Israel initiated its military campaign in Gaza following the surprise Hamas assault in October 2023, which claimed the lives of 1,200 individuals and saw 250 others abducted as hostages.
The conflict has led to extensive devastation within the Palestinian territory, displacing most of its approximately two million inhabitants. Local health authorities report that at least 68,000 Palestinians have died and over 170,000 have been wounded over the last two years.