Israeli troops in northern Gaza targeted with bombs, in apparent breach of truce
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israel Defense Forces says a number of soldiers are lightly hurt after being attacked by Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, in what appears to be the first serious violation of the ceasefire. Hamas accuses the IDF of violating the ceasefire first.
According to the IDF, three explosive devices were detonated near forces at two separate locations in the northern Gaza Strip, “in violation of the truce agreements.”
The army says that in one of the incidents, gunfire was also directed at troops, who returned fire.
“In both cases, the IDF forces were within the agreed-upon ceasefire lines,” it adds.
The spokesman for the military wing of Hamas says its fighters were responding to a “clear violation” of the ceasefire by the IDF in the northern Gaza Strip, which resulted in a clash. It offers no other details.
Hamas says it is “committed to the truce as long as the enemy adheres to it, and we call on the mediators to pressure the occupation to adhere to all the terms of the truce on the ground and in the air.”