Later in the evening, the IDF was instructed by the Israeli government to halt aid deliveries to Gaza until further notice, as reported by local and international media.
Media reports indicated that Hamas claimed to be “unaware” of any confrontations in Rafah and stated that it “remains committed to the ceasefire agreement.” It further accused Israel of “violating the deal and fabricating pretexts to justify its actions.”
In Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government coalition, the Israeli far right is using the situation to advocate for a complete resumption of the conflict.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Israel to restart its military operations in Gaza “in full force” following the IDF reports, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The far-right minister declared on Saturday that he had set a deadline for Netanyahu to dismantle Hamas and implement the death penalty for terrorists, warning that if his demands weren’t met, his far-right Otzma Yehudit party would exit the government, as reported by the Times of Israel.
On Saturday, the U.S. State Department stated that it has “credible reports” of Hamas potentially breaching the ceasefire with an attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Such an attack “would constitute a direct and grave violation” of the agreement brokered by Trump to end the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas, the statement read.
According to Bloomberg, an Israeli official mentioned there are tentative plans for U.S. Vice President JD Vance to accompany White House mediator Steve Witkoff to the Middle East next week, showcasing American commitment to supporting the deal. The U.S embassy in Jerusalem had no immediate comment, it noted.
This article has been updated.
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