Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to immediately launch “heavy strikes” on the Gaza Strip in response to repeated ceasefire violations by Hamas. Initial reports indicate that at least nine people have been killed. This was reported by the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel.
“After security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the military to immediately launch powerful strikes on the sector Gaza, the report said.
The decision came shortly after Hamas militants attacked Israel Defense Forces troops in the south of the enclave. It is also related to Israel’s dissatisfaction with the latest violations of agreements on the return of hostage bodies.
In addition, Netanyahu decided to expand the territory controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip due to Hamas’ actions. According to the public broadcaster Kan, the prime minister is holding consultations with senior US officials to coordinate this step.
For its part, Hamas representatives said that Israel carried out at least three airstrikes on the territory of the Gaza Strip, one of which was aimed at an area near the region’s largest hospital, Shifa.
“The occupation is currently bombing Gaza with at least three airstrikes, despite the ceasefire agreement,” – a spokesman for Hamas-controlled Hamas said.
The militant group also said that it was “postponing the return of the hostage’s body, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. tonight”, calling it “a response to the occupation’s violation of the ceasefire agreement”. According to Palestinian media reports, an Israeli airstrike on a car in Khan Yunis killed five people and another four in Gaza City itself.
