Photo: DOAA ALBAZ / AFP / Getty Images
On Tuesday (October 28), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered immediate military strikes in Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating a US-brokered ceasefire. The decision followed accusations that Hamas staged the discovery of a deceased hostage's body. Netanyahu's office stated that "immediate, powerful" strikes were necessary after security consultations.
According to CNN, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a video allegedly showing Hamas operatives burying and then staging the discovery of a body in Gaza City. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hamas would pay a "heavy price" for attacking IDF soldiers and violating the ceasefire.
The BBC reported that tension spread across Gaza following the announcement, with residents hurrying home and shops closing early. Witnesses described a mix of anxiety and exhaustion due to ongoing violence.
Hamas accused Israel of fabricating false pretexts for aggression and warned that further escalation would hinder efforts to recover hostages' bodies. The group had planned to transfer a hostage's remains to Israel via the Red Cross but postponed the handover due to the strikes.
The ceasefire, in place since October 10, aimed to facilitate the release of hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza. However, both sides now accuse each other of breaking the agreement.