Hamas denies Rafah attack role, accuses Israel of ceasefire breach

Hamas has rejected allegations of involvement in a shooting attack on Israeli forces in Rafah, instead accusing Israel of violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement through military strikes across the territory. The Palestinian group maintains it remains committed to the US-sponsored truce while calling for international intervention to restrain Israeli actions.

Denial and Counteraccusations

In an official statement released Tuesday, Hamas explicitly denied any role in the Rafah incident that Israeli media reported involved sniper fire and anti-tank shells targeting Israeli forces. The group characterized Israeli military responses as "a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement" and described the attacks as "criminal shelling carried out by the fascist occupation army" that represents "a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement" signed in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Ceasefire Violations and Humanitarian Impact

Hamas framed the Israeli strikes as part of "a series of violations in recent days that resulted in casualties and the continued closure of the Rafah crossing," accusing Israel of systematically undermining the ceasefire arrangement. The group specifically called on international mediators overseeing the agreement to "act immediately to pressure Israel, curb its brutal escalation against civilians, stop its serious violations of the ceasefire, and ensure full compliance with its provisions."

Ceasefire Context and Broader Conflict

The current ceasefire has been in effect since October 10 under US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, which includes hostage-prisoner exchanges and envisions Gaza's reconstruction under a new governing mechanism that excludes Hamas. These developments occur against the backdrop of a conflict that has resulted in over 68,500 fatalities and more than 170,000 injuries in Gaza since October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities.