The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet carried out strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives, the security bodies confirmed, in response to what they describe as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement earlier this week, during which gunmen exchanged fire with troops in western Rafah.

The joint statement followed reports from Gaza that a strike in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah had killed Muhammad al-Hawli, a commander in Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan confirmed Hawli’s death, claiming at least five others were killed in the strike, including Hawli’s wife and daughter, and accusing Israel of seeking to undermine the ceasefire.

Hamdan said the attack “is a dangerous escalation and reveals Israel’s intent to undermine the ceasefire agreement.”

He called on US President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to hold Israel to account.

“The ball is now in Trump’s and Witkoff’s court, and Washington must demonstrate Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement,” he said.

Separately, Arabic media reported that an Israeli airstrike Thursday night hit a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing Ashraf al-Khatib,........

© The Times of Israel