The future of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip remains uncertain, as, according to The Times of Israel, Israeli airstrikes took place in the south of the enclave following attacks by armed men on Israeli soldiers.

According to information cited by the Israeli outlet, the attack occurred near Rafah when “armed terrorists” attacked Israeli forces operating in the area. In response, the IDF launched targeted airstrikes against positions in Rafah.

As The Times of Israel reports, the incident is believed to be the latest violation of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas, which, according to Israeli authorities, continues military activities despite the ongoing truce.

So far, the IDF has not issued an official statement about the attack or the extent of the subsequent operations. However, local media report that one Israeli soldier was killed and three others wounded.

Media linked to Hamas in Gaza reported that the operation carried out earlier today in eastern Rafah targeted Yasser Abu Shabab, the head of a militia operating in the area with Israeli support. That militia is located in a zone under Israeli control, according to the ceasefire agreement.

Last Friday, the Israeli army also announced that “several terrorists” opened fire on soldiers in the Rafah area, without causing injuries. The army later stated that it struck another group of “terrorists” approaching soldiers in Khan Younis the same day. The army added it would continue to act to remove immediate threats.

Mutual accusations and denials

The Israeli government and Hamas have been accusing each other of violating the ceasefire for days, with Israel stating that the border crossing between Rafah and Egypt will remain closed until further notice.

The Israeli army announced today that Hamas fighters carried out “multiple attacks” against Israeli forces beyond the “yellow line,” the neutral zone, including the launch of a self-propelled rocket and sniper fire, calling these “blatant” violations of the ceasefire.

For its part, Hamas today rejected a statement from the U.S. State Department, which cited “credible information” indicating an imminent breach of the ceasefire agreement by the Palestinian Islamist movement. Hamas stated that these claims were false.

The State Department said on Saturday that it had “credible information indicating an imminent violation of the ceasefire by Hamas against the people of Gaza,” stressing that such an act would constitute a “direct and serious breach of the ceasefire agreement.”