Gaza (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Israeli military launched an attack in Rafah and elsewhere in southern Gaza, as Israel continued to trade blame with Hamas over breaches of the ceasefire, seeking to conclude the fighting in the enclave, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
Israeli media reports that the Israeli military is conducting attacks in Rafah and other parts of southern Gaza. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reports that a phone call regarding the situation was occurring between Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and military officials.
According to Israeli media, the response came after Hamas fighters attacked an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) engineering unit in Rafah. Reports indicate that three airstrikes were carried out following an “exchange of fire” with Hamas members.
What is the progress on the ceasefire agreement?
As reported by Al Jazeera, Palestinian officials said that since the ceasefire began in early October, the Israeli army has violated it 47 times, resulting in 38 deaths and 143 injuries.
Moreover, Israel also announces that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will stay closed “until further notice.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticizes Hamas for not doing enough to recover the captives’ bodies.
Also, two days ago, Israeli forces killed 11 members of a Palestinian family in Gaza, marking the deadliest single violation of the fragile ceasefire since it began. On Friday evening, Israeli forces fired a tank shell at a civilian vehicle carrying the Abu Shaaban family in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood, according to Gaza’s civil defence.
How many hostages and prisoners have been exchanged to date?
Reports say that Hamas has returned the remains of 12 of the 28 Israeli hostages who were killed while held captive in Gaza. Israel was also supposed to receive all Israeli captives, living and dead, back within 72 hours of the ceasefire deal.
In exchange for the captives, Israel agreed to return roughly 360 bodies of dead Palestinians and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners while the ceasefire was in effect. Israel has returned about 135 bodies to Gaza, including 15 bodies that were returned prior to today’s announcement.
In the months since, Israel has also returned approximately 1,700 Palestinian detainees (including 250 security prisoners) as part of the prisoner exchange deal.
