Israel says Gaza strikes hit senior terrorists in response to truce violation

The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet carried out strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives, the security bodies confirmed, in response to what they describe as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement earlier this week, during which gunmen exchanged fire with troops in western Rafah.

The joint statement followed reports from Gaza that a strike in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah had killed Muhammad al-Hawli, a commander in Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan confirmed Hawli’s death, claiming at least five others were killed in the strike, including Hawli’s wife and daughter, and accusing Israel of seeking to undermine the ceasefire.

Hamdan said the attack “is a dangerous escalation and reveals Israel’s intent to undermine the ceasefire agreement.”

He called on US President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to hold Israel to account.

“The ball is now in Trump’s and Witkoff’s court, and Washington must demonstrate Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement,” he said.

Separately, Arabic media reported that an Israeli airstrike Thursday night hit a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing Ashraf al-Khatib, a commander in Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades, along with his wife, and wounding several others.

The IDF and Shin Bet said they view any breach of the ceasefire with the “utmost gravity” and will continue acting against attempts by terror groups in Gaza to carry out attacks against troops or civilians.

Six Palestinian gunmen were killed Tuesday during an exchange of fire with the IDF in western Rafah.

The incident unfolded on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line in the southern Gaza Strip after troops identified six armed individuals near their positions. Tanks moved in and opened fire, prompting the gunmen to return fire and triggering a firefight along with Israeli airstrikes.

Since October 10, a fragile US-sponsored truce in Gaza has largely halted the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but both sides have alleged frequent ceasefire violations.

Three IDF soldiers have been killed during the same period.

The flare-up in violence came even as Israel and other countries prepared for the start of the Gaza ceasefire’s second phase, which the US publicly launched on Wednesday.

Phase two is meant to establish longer-term governance and security frameworks for the enclave. But Israel is insisting that Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the final deceased hostage held in Gaza, must be returned before the deal advances, and on Tuesday reiterated that it rejects claims by Gaza terror groups that they cannot locate his body.

The Gvili family and their supporters say that there should be no move into phase two of the Gaza plan while his body remains in the enclave.

The US has said it is working for the return of Gvili’s body, but will not hold up phase two for that purpose.

Trump announced on Friday on his Truth Social account that the Board of Peace tasked with overseeing the postwar management of Gaza — as part of phase two — has been formed and that “the members of the board will be announced shortly.”

Trump also posted that Washington will reach an agreement with Hamas that will see it fully disarm, threatening the terror group if it does not get on board.

The US has claimed that Hamas officials, during a meeting with Trump’s top aides on the eve of the October 2025 ceasefire deal, agreed to disarm — something the terrorist group has denied.

The US has been in talks with mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which have assured Washington that Hamas will agree to a gradual disarmament plan that would begin with the terror organization giving up its heavy weaponry and the launch of a “buy-back” program for lighter weapons, according to the US official and two Arab diplomats, who said the goal is to begin implementing the program in the coming weeks.

A senior US official briefing reporters on Wednesday said all terror infrastructure in Gaza will be destroyed and “heavy weaponry, like RPGs, rocket launchers and missiles” will “need to be put into a place where they’re not being used.”

But he notably made no mention of light weapons, which Israel is also insisting be included in the disarmament program, arguing that AK-47s are what Hamas uses to maintain its control over Gaza’s population.

Trump’s comments in the Truth Social post went further than those by his aide in the briefing, insisting that every weapon must be handed over, something Hamas is unlikely to accept.

Hamas officials have publicly asserted that the organization will only agree to give up its weapons in a negotiated process that results in the establishment of a Palestinian state — which Israel rejects.

Jacob Magid and Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report.