Israel says Gaza strikes hit senior terror operatives in response to ‘blatant’ truce violation

The IDF and Shin Bet confirm they carried out strikes across the Gaza Strip yesterday against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives in response to what they describe as a “blatant violation” of the October ceasefire agreement earlier this week, during which gunmen opened fire on troops in western Rafah.

The joint statement follows reports from Gaza that a strike in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah 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.

Separately, Arabic media reported that an Israeli airstrike last night hit a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing Ahraf 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 say they view any breach of the ceasefire with the “utmost seriousness” and will continue acting against attempts by terror groups in Gaza to carry out attacks against troops or civilians.