Planes launched attacks on the territorial territory in response to “fire on troops”, after the Netanyahu government accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and killing two soldiers. Palestinian group denies confrontation.
The Israeli government decided this Sunday (10/19) to suspend the sending of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip after resuming air strikes on the Palestinian territory and accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire and attacking Israeli soldiers.
Information about the suspension of humanitarian aid was published by several Israeli vehicles and confirmed to news agencies by anonymous sources from the Israeli Army. Two soldiers were killed in the attacks, in an escalation that puts the fragile ceasefire in force since October 10 at risk.
The Israeli Army confirmed that it had bombed Gaza militants in the Rafah area (south of Gaza, under Israeli military control) this Sunday, in response to the “firing of an anti-tank missile and shots at troops” in the area and as part of a wave of bombings it committed this Sunday throughout the territory, after denouncing “a flagrant violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
“In response, the Army began shelling the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnels and military structures used for terrorist activities,” according to the military statement.
In a statement, Israeli forces specified that “as part of the attacks, the army struck underground infrastructure used by the Hamas terrorist organization to maintain defenses.”
The Israeli army launched several airstrikes on Sunday, killing at least 15 people in different areas of the Gaza Strip, following alleged clashes between Gaza militants and Israeli troops on Sunday morning, according to hospital sources in the Palestinian enclave.
Two Palestinian witnesses told the AFP news agency that clashes first broke out in a part of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, followed by two airstrikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Sunday attempted “vigorous action against terrorist targets” in Gaza, nine days after the ceasefire came into force, without clarifying whether this marks the end of the truce.
“Following Hamas’ violation of the ceasefire, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a consultation with the Defense Minister and security sector chiefs and attempted vigorous action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,” his office said in a statement.
Hamas denies knowledge of the incident
The Islamist group stated, however, that it was not aware of any incident or clash in Rafah involving Israeli forces.
“We reaffirm our full commitment to implementing everything that was agreed, the main one being a ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip,” said the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in a statement.
“We are not aware of any incidents or clashes occurring in the Rafah area, as these are red zones under occupation control, and contact with our remaining groups has been interrupted since the resumption of the war in March this year.”
According to a source from the armed wing of Hamas, the group involved in terrible internal conflicts, had launched an operation in Rafah to eliminate Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the rival militia known as “Popular Forces”. But Israeli soldiers intervened in support of Shabab, launching crossfire attacks and causing an Israeli bulldozer to explode.
On Saturday, the United States government warned that it had “credible information” indicating that Hamas was expecting “an imminent violation” of the ceasefire in a planned attack on Palestinian civilians.
This Sunday morning, Hamas blamed Israel for arming and financing these other militias, which, according to the group, carried out “murders, kidnappings, robberies of humanitarian aid trucks and robberies against civilians”.
Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Israel and other countries including Germany and the United States, declared that Gaza police officers, “with broad civil and popular support,” are pursuing these gangs and holding them accountable “according to clear legal mechanisms, to protect citizens and preserve public and private property.”
Israeli minister calls for more bombings
Israeli settlers and leaders of religious Zionist parties in the coalition government called on Sunday for the resumption of the military offensive against the Gaza Strip, following crossfire between troops and militants in Rafah.
“I ask the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) who ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to fully resume fighting in the Gaza Strip with full force,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Givr, who was previously convicted of inciting hatred against Palestinians, vandalism and supporting terrorism, posted on X. “The false assumptions that Hamas will turn its back on them, or even stick to the agreed deal, are proving dangerous to our security, as expected,” he added.
Originally published by DW on 10/19/2025
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/10/20/israel-bombardeia-gaza-e-suspende-ajuda-humanitaria/
