Hamas Calls on Mediators to Compel Occupation to Adhere to Agreement as Israel Threatens

SadaNews - Hamas called on mediators on Wednesday to compel Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, at a time when Tel Aviv threatened to enforce the agreement by force.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that the movement is monitoring what has been agreed upon regarding the handing over of the bodies of Israeli soldiers detained by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, as part of its commitment to the ceasefire agreement concerning the Gaza Strip.

In a statement published by Palestinian media, Qassem added that the occupation has clearly violated the ceasefire agreement by killing civilians in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza City and in Rafah, southern Gaza.

The occupation government announced yesterday that it would keep the Rafah crossing closed and reduce the number of aid trucks to the Gaza Strip, citing Hamas's delay in returning the bodies of the captives, despite the release of four more bodies last night.

As of last night, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades had handed over the bodies of 8 Israeli captives out of 28 that it is believed to have. The Israeli army announced today that tests by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas does not match any detained individual.

As Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement continue, 5 Palestinians were martyred yesterday by Israeli drone fire while inspecting their homes in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.

The Israeli army claimed that the Palestinians crossed the "yellow line," which is the limit to which they withdrew in the first stage of implementing the ceasefire agreement.

Additionally, one Palestinian was martyred and others were injured by Israeli drone fire north of Rafah and in the vicinity of the nearby city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated today that there will be an immediate and strong response to any violation.

Gallant added that Israel's policy is to enforce the agreement emphatically.

Later today, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi warned Hamas that Israel would not tolerate any threats, emphasizing that their hand is on the trigger, on the tank, and on the warplane, as he put it.

The Israeli army also stated that Hamas must make every effort necessary to return the remaining bodies of the captives in its possession.

For its part, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated that the government and all security agencies are determined and committed to working tirelessly to recover all captured bodies that were killed in Gaza to ensure they receive a proper burial.

The office urged Hamas to adhere to its commitments to the mediators and return all slain captives as part of implementing the agreement. It also mentioned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government would not relent on this matter and would spare no effort until all Israeli bodies are returned.

It is worth noting that the ceasefire agreement came into effect last Friday, and U.S. President Donald Trump announced yesterday the start of the second phase of the agreement after the completion of the first phase, which witnessed a ceasefire and a partial withdrawal of the Israeli army, as well as the release of 20 living Israeli captives.