Israeli strikes kill nine in Gaza as ceasefire faces major test
Under the current ceasefire terms, Hamas was given 72 hours to release all Israeli captives, both living and dead, in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinians serving life sentences and detainees from Gaza. Nearly 2,000 Palestinians were released as part of the deal.
At least nine Palestinians were killed on Sunday after Israeli forces struck several targets in southern Gaza, with Tel Aviv claiming the attacks came after its troops were attacked by Hamas fighters.
According to Gaza health officials, six people were killed when a missile hit a makeshift coffee stall in Zawaida, while two more were killed near the Al-Ahly soccer club in Nuseirat refugee camp. Another person was killed in Khan Younis, with several others injured during the incidents.
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In a statement on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) alleged that the Hamas fighters opened fire in Rafah, an area it controls under the fragile truce brokered by the United States last week in a bid to end the war in Gaza. The IDF did not report any fatalities but noted that its troops responded with strikes.
Hamas has since denied responsibility, claiming that it had lost contact with its units in Rafah months ago and accused Israel of repeatedly breaking the truce brokered
Under the current ceasefire terms, Hamas was given 72 hours to release all Israeli captives, both living and dead, in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinians serving life sentences and detainees from Gaza. Nearly 2,000 Palestinians were released as part of the deal.
Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the agreement by failing to return the bodies of all deceased hostages. While Hamas handed over the last 20 surviving captives on Monday, it had by Saturday evening returned the remains of only 12 of the 28 dead, saying others were still trapped under rubble and could only be recovered using specialised equipment.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would remain closed "until further notice," adding that its reopening would depend on Hamas fully meeting its commitment to return all the bodies.
Hamas, Al Jazeera reports, has begun talks with mediators on launching the second phase of the ceasefire. The next stage is expected to address the group's potential disarmament, Israel's withdrawal from more areas of Gaza, and discussions on the future governance of the war-torn enclave.
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