Netanyahu orders “intensive attacks” in the Gaza Strip

Tel Aviv/Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the army to immediately carry out "intensive attacks" in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's office announced this following a security briefing with the prime minister.

According to a media report, a firefight had previously broken out in the southern Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire. The Israeli army broadcaster reported that armed members of the terrorist organization Hamas had fired on Israeli soldiers. According to Palestinian eyewitnesses, this was followed by artillery shelling of several areas in the Rafah region. All reports cannot currently be independently verified.

Since the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on October 10 as part of US President Donald Trump's peace plan, there have been repeated fatal incidents. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 90 Palestinians have already been killed. Just over a week ago, two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack with an RPG.

Following the handover of the remains of a previously buried hostage, Hamas announced it would hand over another body. This body would be handed over at 8:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. CET), according to a statement on Telegram from Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The body was found in a tunnel.

The handover of hostage remains has always been handled by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). On Monday evening, Hamas handed over another set of remains. However, forensic investigations in Israel revealed that they belonged to an Israeli whose body the army had already brought to Israel in the fall of 2023. This sparked great anger and outrage in Israel and prompted Netanyahu's security meeting to discuss the next steps.

Under US President Donald Trump's peace plan, Hamas was supposed to hand over a total of 28 hostage bodies more than two weeks ago. However, the terrorist organization has not yet handed over 13 bodies, citing the difficult conditions on the ground. According to media reports, Israel is now considering, among other things, expanding the territory it still controls in the coastal strip as a counter-reaction to the delay.

RND/dpa