Israeli aircraft launched two attacks in southern Gaza on Sunday, according to witnesses and media reports, while a military official accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and attacking troops. Two Palestinian witnesses told AFP that clashes first erupted in a section of the southern Israeli-held town of Rafah, followed by two airstrikes. The Israeli official, who did not confirm the airstrikes, said fighters from the armed Islamist movement Hamas had attacked his forces with sniper fire and a rocket-propelled grenade. “This is a flagrant violation of the ceasefire,” the official told AFP. For the moment, the Israeli Army has not commented on the matter and it is not known if there are any injuries or fatalities, nor if this crossfire could jeopardize the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10.

Operation against rival Hamas militia

According to a source from Hamas's armed wing, the group, engaged in fierce internal fighting, had launched an operation in Rafah to eliminate Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the rival militia known as the 'Popular Forces'. But Israeli soldiers intervened to support Shabab, initiating crossfire attacks and causing the explosion of an Israeli bulldozer.

Yesterday, the United States government already warned that it had "credible information" indicating that Hamas was planning "an imminent violation" of the ceasefire in a planned attack against Palestinian civilians. This morning, the Islamist group Hamas rejected that accusation and blamed Israel for arming and financing those other militias that, it said, carried out “murders, kidnappings, robberies of aid trucks and thefts against civilians.” Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by both Israel and other countries, including Germany and the United States, said that Gaza police officers, “with broad civilian 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.”

Radical ministers call for more bombing

Israeli settlers and leaders of the Religious Zionist parties in the coalition government today urged a summary of the war offensive against the Gaza Strip, after the crossfire between troops and militants in Rafah. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich alluded with a single word to what he considers the appropriate response from Israel: “War,” he posted half an hour ago on his account.

“I urge Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) to order the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to fully resume fighting in the Gaza Strip with all their strength,” said National Security Minister Itamar Ben Givr, who was convicted in the past for inciting hatred against Palestinians, vandalism and supporting terrorism. "False speculation that Hamas will turn its back on them, or even abide by the signed agreement, is proving dangerous to our security, as expected," he said. added.