Israel Admits Rafah Operation Involved Isolated Gaza Cell Unaware of Ceasefire: Report

Occupied Palestine (QNN)- Israel has reportedly admitted that the operation which took place in southern Gaza’s Rafah on Tuesday was likely carried out by an isolated cell that was unaware of the ceasefire that took effect earlier in October.

On Tuesday, Israel announced that it had ordered “powerful and immediate” strikes on the Gaza Strip, claiming Hamas attacked its soldiers in Rafah and hasn’t released all Israeli captives held in Gaza.

Hamas, however, denied responsibility for the operation in Rafah and said in a statement that it remained committed to the ceasefire deal. Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, accused Israel of violating the truce.

According to Israel’s Walla website, the cell had remained for a long time in the tunnels. When the Israeli engineering forces began to strike a key section of the tunnel system in the area, the fighters emerged from underground and opened fire on the unit.

Sources familiar with the details said that, according to assessments, this was a cell that had been trapped for a long period and, as a last resort, carried out the operation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has exploited the Rafah operation to intensify attacks in Gaza. Since last night, over 100 Palestinians, including 46 children, have been killed in the deadly strikes.

After killing dozens, the Israeli military said on Wednesday that it was returning to the ceasefire in line with instructions from the political leadership.

Hamas accused Israel of fabricating “false pretexts” to renew aggression in Gaza.

The US expressed support for Israel despite its ceasefire violations, emphasising Israel’s right to defend itself.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the ceasefire “is not in jeopardy” despite the strikes.