Israel accuses Hamas of breaching Gaza agreement and launches strikes
Tensions escalate again in the Middle East as Israel blames the militant group Hamas for violating the peace deal established with Gaza last week, prompting a series of military strikes.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, Hamas militants emerged from a tunnel in the Rafah area, controlled mainly by Israeli forces, and launched a tank missile at an Israeli vehicle.
Israel responded with approximately 20 airstrikes targeting Hamas positions in Rafah and other parts of Gaza, leading to the closure of border crossings and suspension of humanitarian aid deliveries.
U.S.
officials, including Steve Vitkoff and Jared Kushner, held phone conversations with Israeli counterparts to discuss subsequent steps, urging restraint and proportional response.
American sources emphasize that the U.S.
has called on Israel to exercise caution to prevent a full-scale escalation.
The background to the current escalation involves the signing of a ceasefire agreement on October 13th between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey during an international summit held in Cairo with European leaders present.
President Donald Trump indicated that if Hamas violates the accord again, he might consider allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume military operations in Gaza, which could ignite a new wave of violence in the region.