israel Responds to Rafah Attack with Airstrike Amidst Fragile Ceasefire
RAFAH, Gaza Strip – Israel launched an airstrike in Rafah following a terrorist attack on Israeli soldiers Friday, further straining a recently established ceasefire with Hamas. Several militants emerged from a tunnel and opened fire on Israeli troops, though no soldiers were injured in teh incident, according to the Times of Israel.
The attack and subsequent Israeli response highlight the precarious nature of the truce and escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas. While Hamas official Izzat Rišak stated the movement desires to maintain the ceasefire,he also criticized Israel’s continued presence in parts of the Gaza Strip,labeling it a violation of the agreement. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to circumvent commitments due to pressure from hardline coalition partners.
Internal divisions within the Israeli government are also apparent, with ultra-right politicians like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrič calling for renewed fighting – Smotrič simply posted the word “war” on X – and Avigdor Liberman, head of the Yisrael Beyten opposition party, advocating for a “language of power.” Conversely, Democratic Party Chairman Jair Golan urged a moderate response to avoid pushing Palestinians towards radical groups.
Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, and Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army Eyal Zamir are scheduled to discuss the repeated ceasefire violations this afternoon. A poll conducted by Novinky.cz indicates uncertainty surrounding the truce’s longevity, with 9,790 readers having already cast their votes.
