Fresh Israeli air raids hit Rafah as Hamas denies clashes

The Israeli military carried out air strikes in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Sunday despite an existing ceasefire agreement with Hamas, local media reported.

According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the strikes followed an exchange of fire with Hamas fighters. Channel 12 claimed that the Israeli attack came after one of its military vehicles was targeted by Hamas in the area.

However, Hamas’s armed wing said it was unaware of any such incident or clashes in Rafah. The group reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire deal and all terms agreed upon, including the cessation of hostilities across Gaza.

The air strikes come amid a fragile truce reached last week under a phased plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. The agreement included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and laid out a roadmap for Gaza’s reconstruction and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. Since Israel began its military offensive in October 2023, more than 68,100 Palestinians have been killed and 170,200 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.