Israel's national security minister, Ben Guevara, has called for a resumption of military operations in Gaza, which Hamas has allegedly violated a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month.
Militants fired an anti-tank missile and fired at Israeli forces stationed in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israel responded with several air strikes against its alleged terrorist targets.
“I’m calling on the prime minister to order the Israeli Defence Forces to resume full combat in the Gaza Strip,” Guevara said in a statement on Sunday, erroneously believing that Hamas would change its behavior and even abide by its signed agreements, an idea ... which poses a threat to our security.
Under U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Israel and Hamas agreed on a temporary ceasefire in early October.
The Phase 1 deal requires Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages within 72 hours in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
On Monday, the group released the last 20 Palestinian prisoners still held hostage and returned the remains of another 12.Hamas said they had fulfilled their obligations but faced difficulties in recovering all the remains due to the destruction of the Gaza Strip and Israel’s continued control of parts of the area.
Israel has accused Hamas of failing to return the bodies of 16 prisoners, while both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
Later on Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office issued a statement directing the IDF to "take resolute action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip." The statement did not specify whether this meant that the IDF would fully resume military operations.
Hamas senior official Izzat al-Risheq also said in a statement on Sunday that the group was still committed to a ceasefire and accused the Israeli “occupation” of violating the ceasefire agreement and “seeking excuses for its crimes.”
The statement said: “We have no information about any incidents or conflicts in Rafah and Rafah is currently under Israeli occupation control.”