Israel halts aid to Gaza in clash with Hamas over breaking ceasefire
The airstrikes came as smoke clouds rose over the city of Khan Younis, home to tens of thousands of people in southern Gaza, and the Israel Defense Forces announced attacks on weapons storage facilities, firing points and Hamas tunnels.
The ceasefire is under increasing pressure as Hamas has failed to hand over the remains of 28 hostages it agreed to release by last Monday, and Israel has responded by halting aid deliveries despite promising more food, water and medical aid.
Palestinian babies injured in the Israeli army attack are being treated at Nasser Hospital in Gaza on Sunday.Credit: access point
Aid groups have called for hundreds of daily truck deliveries to be allowed through the Rafah crossing to feed the region’s estimated two million people, but an impasse over the ceasefire led Israel to close the crossing on Saturday.
Israeli officials announced on Sunday (Monday AEDT) that all humanitarian aid had been suspended.
Netanyahu has stepped up threats to use military force against Hamas, and his office has accused the group of violating the ceasefire.
“Hamas continues to demonstrate that its barbaric and irresponsible actions are the greatest threat to Israel and the Palestinian people,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
A man fired into the air during the funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Deir Al Balah, Gaza, on Sunday.Credit: access point
“We will respond forcefully to their brutal rule and prevent their weakening grip on Gaza.”
Netanyahu insists that Hamas lay down its arms under the terms of the peace plan, which sets long-term goals for a transitional authority to govern Gaza and also provides for Hamas leaders to gain safe passage to third countries.
Hamas has refused to accept demilitarization and instead executed its rivals in the region last week using force, asserting its control. Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Australia and other countries.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, one of Israel’s most hawkish leaders in the war in Gaza, called for fighting in the region to continue “at full force”, potentially expanding violations of the ceasefire.
Israel said it would suspend all humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza until further notice.Credit: access point
The Australian government imposed sanctions on Ben-Gvir in June for supporting systematic violence against Palestinians.
Hamas’ armed wing said in a statement, according to Reuters, that it remained committed to the ceasefire agreement in the entire Gaza Strip. He also stated that he was not aware of the clashes in Rafah and had not been in contact with the groups there since March.
BBC, citing local sources, reported that six members of the Hamas al-Qassam Brigades, including Yahya al-Mabhouh, the commander of an elite unit, were killed in Israel’s air strike on the town of Al-Zawaida in the center of Gaza.
Reuters via AP
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