The U.S. State Department has stated it possesses “credible reports” indicating that Hamas is planning an “imminent” attack targeting civilians within Gaza. According to the U.S., such an action would constitute a violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
The first phase of this ceasefire, currently in progress, has involved the release of all living hostages and the ongoing return of deceased individuals to Israel. Washington has communicated its concerns to the other guarantors of the Gaza peace agreement—Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—and called upon Hamas to adhere to its ceasefire obligations.
The U.S. warned that should the alleged attack proceed, “measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.” As of this report, Hamas has not yet issued a public response to these statements.
This development unfolds within the broader context of the Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza, launched following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led gunmen, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities in southern Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2elr16jjqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss