Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Amid renewed tension in the Gaza Strip, Hamas and Israel have traded accusations of breaching the latest ceasefire agreement, highlighting the fragility of ongoing international efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
On Friday, Hamas accused Israeli forces of violating the ceasefire by killing at least 24 Palestinians in various incidents since the truce was declared. According to a senior Hamas official whose identity was not disclosed, the group has compiled a list of what it described as “systematic violations” by Israeli forces and submitted it to international mediators. “The occupation is working day and night to undermine the agreement through repeated ground violations,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has not issued an official response to Hamas’s allegations. However, in an earlier statement, the army suggested that some Palestinians had ignored warnings not to approach Israeli military positions, as stipulated in the ceasefire terms. The military claimed that its troops “opened fire to neutralize threats” after several individuals allegedly emerged from a tunnel and advanced toward their positions. These individuals were labeled a “direct threat” by the Israeli military.
Reports from Gaza on Friday indicated a notable escalation on the ground. Israeli artillery reportedly shelled areas east of the Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City. Simultaneously, Israeli airstrikes targeted locations in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least two people, according to local sources.
The renewed violence comes amid increasing international pressure for a long-term resolution to the Gaza conflict. Speaking on the broader context of the crisis, U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, reiterated Washington’s position that Hamas has no future role in the governance of Gaza unless it fully disarms. “Hamas must unequivocally lay down its arms,” Witkoff stated, emphasizing that any post-conflict political framework must exclude armed factions.
The latest round of ceasefire violations underscores the deep mistrust between the parties and casts doubt over the durability of any temporary truce. With international mediators continuing their efforts behind the scenes, the situation on the ground remains tense, and the prospect of a broader escalation looms unless a more robust and enforceable agreement is reached.
