In brief
Israel has responded with air strikes in Gaza after accusations of ceasefire violations by Hamas, leading to at least nine Palestinian deaths. The Israeli government claims Hamas attacked soldiers and failed to return hostages' bodies, while Hamas denies the allegations. US Vice-President JD Vance commented that the ceasefire is still holding despite the outbreaks of violence.
Israel has carried out air strikes in Gaza, in response to what Israeli officials said were violations of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of attacking Israeli soldiers in Gaza on Tuesday, and breaching the terms on returning the bodies of deceased hostages.
The Palestinian armed group claimed it had no connection to the attack and insisted it was committed to the ceasefire deal.
First responders in Gaza said at least nine Palestinians were killed in a wave of Israeli strikes across the territory on Tuesday evening.
Despite the flare-up, US Vice-President JD Vance said he believed the ceasefire was holding.
A brief statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu's office indicated he had ordered forceful strikes by the military but did not specify his reasons.
Defence Minister Katz declared that Hamas had crossed a bright red line by launching an attack on Israeli soldiers.
Israeli media reported that troops in the southern Gaza city of Rafah were fired upon, coinciding with reported artillery shelling by Israel.
Witness reports described powerful explosions throughout Gaza following air strikes, impacting locations such as Gaza City and Khan Younis.
A spokesman for the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that four people were killed in a residential strike in Gaza City.
Hamas firmly denied attacking Israeli troops, stating, The criminal bombardment carried out by the fascist occupation represents a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire, negotiated by the US and others, originally aimed for swift returns of hostages and hostilities; however, the recent violence raises serious questions about its sustainability in the months ahead.
