Israel’s military accused the Hamas terrorist organization of violating the extended ceasefire on Tuesday in a statement on social media, inserting a rift into ongoing negotiations for additional hostage releases.
Israel and Hamas agreed to pause fighting for two more days beyond the initial ceasefire arrangement on Monday as Qatar was mediating for further hostage releases in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israel and humanitarian aid deliveries.
But in the last hour, Hamas terrorists fired at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops abiding by the operational lines set by the ceasefire arrangement, the IDF claimed.
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Three explosive devices also detonated near IDF positions in two different locations in northern Gaza, where the heaviest fighting has taken place, the IDF said.
Hamas accused the IDF of firing the first shots to break the pause in fighting, the Times of Israel reported.
A spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing said fighters were responding to a “clear violation” of the ceasefire in northern Gaza but provided no further details, the Times reported.
Hamas is “committed to the truce as long as the enemy adheres to it, and we call on the mediators to pressure the occupation to adhere to all the terms of the truce on the ground and in the air,” the group said, according to the Times.
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CIA Director Bill Burns also touched down in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to hold secret talks with the Israeli intelligence chief and the Qatari prime minister over ways to broker a broader agreement with the Hamas terrorist organization over hostage releases.
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