The international community is watching with concern the observance of the cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s military announced overnight that it would halt attacks on the Gaza Strip under a ceasefire, after carrying out dozens of deadly strikes on what it said were Hamas targets, which it blamed for attacks on Israeli forces.

“According to the orders of the political leadership, and following a series of major strikes in response to Hamas violations”the military is “resuming the implementation of the ceasefire,” the statement said.

The Israeli army “will continue to abide by the ceasefire agreement and will respond strongly to any violation”specified in the text of the announcement.

Wave of attacks in Gaza

It is noted that the Israeli army announced earlier that it had launched a new wave of attacks in Rafah, in the southern sector of the Gaza Strip, after the first shelling in the same area earlier today, claiming that it was in response to attacks by Hamas, which the Palestinian organization denied.

The Israeli military specifically announced that it hit “dozens” of Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip today while Israel and Hamas accuse each other for violating the truce which has been in force since October 10.

“During the last few hours, in response to the flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement earlier” today, the army “struck dozens of Hamas terror targets across the Gaza Strip,” among them weapons depots and underground infrastructure, the Israeli army said in a statement.

The army also announced the death of two Israeli soldiers.

According to the testimony of an AFP journalist, the Israeli strikes were directed at the eastern side of Khan Younes, in the southern sector of the Palestinian enclave.

For its part, the Hamas-controlled Gaza Civil Protection Agency announced that 33 people were killed today by the Israeli army, among them children.

Appeal for restraint from the US

Washington, for its part, called on Tel Aviv to “react proportionately but with restraint” in order not to collapse the peace agreement, according to the website Axios, citing American and Israeli officials.

Israel stopped aid transfers

At the same time, Israel suspended the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip due to Hamas’s violation of the ceasefire, an Israeli security source said earlier.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today asked the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) and security services “to take firm action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip”, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement, his office said.

Netanyahu gave this order “after Hamas violated the ceasefire” and after “consultations he had with Defense Minister Israel Katz and the heads of the security services”added the office of the Israeli prime minister.

At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas today that it will pay a “big price” for “every strike” aimed at Israeli soldiers and for “every violation of the cease-fire in Gaza”, according to a statement from his office.

“Hamas will learn the hard way today that the Israeli military is determined to protect its soldiers and prevent any harm from happening to them.”Katz emphasized after the airstrikes launched by the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) in response to “terrorist” attacks on their positions.

At the same time, an Israeli army officer stated earlier that “there is the possibility of other strikes” against Hamas in response to what he described as “violations” of the ceasefire by the Palestinian organization.

The officer, who was briefing journalists, pointed out that there were three incidents today in which Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli troops behind the “yellow line”, where Israeli forces have withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement, in the areas of Rafah (south) and Beit Lahia (north).

At the same time, the IDF reiterated its warning to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to avoid entering areas under Israeli control and to stay away from Israeli troops.

Earlier the Israeli military confirmed that it carried out “air strikes” in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, in response to “terrorist” attacks on its positions.

According to a statement from the Israeli army, “terrorists launched anti-tank missiles and opened fire against the forces of Chahal (the Israeli army), who were acting to destroy terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, based on the terms of the agreement.”

The Israeli army “launched airstrikes and used artillery fire in the Rafah area to neutralize the threat”the statement stressed, calling the incident a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire” that came into effect on October 10.

For its part, the armed wing of Hamas emphasized that it remains committed to what the agreement provides, including the ceasefire in all areas of Gaza.

At the same time, he added that he has not been informed of any incidents or clashes in Rafah, while he noted that this area is under the control of Israel and that its communication with all the groups there has been interrupted since March.