Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, stand at the site where they, along with Egyptian workers and machinery, are searching for the bodies of hostages in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered ‘powerful strikes on Gaza, after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal, the Palestinian militant group has denied the allegations.
In a statement, Hamas said the group was not behind the attack on IDF troops in Rafah and added that they were committed to the current ceasefire.
Hamas accuses Israel of ceasefire violation
Hamas further alleged that Israel had violated the ceasefire deal by ordering the assault on Gaza on Tuesday.
“The criminal assault by the occupation army in several areas of Gaza constitutes a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement… the attack is a continuation of a series of violations in recent days,” the Hamas statement said.
Hamas also demands that the mediators pressure Israel to stop the “dangerous violations.”
Challenges in maintaining peace in Gaza
Though Hamas has distanced itself from the attack on IDF troops in Rafah, the incident once again highlights the challenge the militant outfit faces in upholding its end of the ceasefire deal.
That is because there are several splinter groups and local commanders of Hamas across Gaza, who are opposed to the ceasefire deal and are operating independently from its political and military leadership.
Two killed in Israeli strike in Gaza
Meanwhile, at least two people were killed and four others were injured after an Israeli strike on the Sabra neighbourhood south of Gaza City, Gaza’s civil defence said.
Israeli planes launched strikes on Gaza City after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the militant group Hamas of violating a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory. He ordered the Israeli military to carry out “powerful attacks”.
Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by turning over the remains of a hostage, whose body was recovered by the IDF in December 2023.
Return of 13 slain hostages
According to Israeli authorities, the delay in returning the remains of the 13 slain hostages amounted to a violation of the terms of the Gaza ceasefire deal, which came into effect on October 10.
Hamas initially said in response to this that it would hand over to Israel on Tuesday the body of a missing hostage found in a tunnel in Gaza. However, Hamas’ armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, said later it would postpone the planned handover, citing what it said were Israel’s violations of the ceasefire.
