Israeli military carried out air strikes on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday less than a week after the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump
Israel’s Channel 12 reported the strikes were intended to protect members of the Yasser Abu Shabab militia – an Israeli-backed gang accused of stealing humanitarian aid and attacking Palestinian civilians during Israel’s two-year genocidal war on Gaza.
Palestinian outlet Quds Network cited an unnamed source saying that a Hamas‑led internal security unit carried out an operation targeting a hideout belonging to Yasser Abu Shabab east of Rafah.
President Donald Trump had gathered world leaders in Egypt last week proclaiming ‘Peace in the Middle East’.
But on Sunday, things took a horrifying turn as dozens of Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed as both sides, Israel and Hamas, blamed the other for violating the ceasefire.
Israeli war planes have once more been in action, sending up plumes of smoke as they targeted Hamas in retaliation, Israel says, for firing on an Israeli military position.
Hamas, which has yet to give up its weapons, is accusing Israel of arming a criminal gang of looters that it says is operating with impunity in the Israeli-controlled half of the Gaza Strip.
American pressure is now needed to keep this ceasefire deal on track and to that end Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s envoy, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are due in Israel shortly.
Under heavy American and international pressure, Israel will allow aid to resume into the territory but the Rafah crossing with Egypt remains closed. BBC/ Iran News
