Gaza (QNN)- Hamas said on Wednesday that Israel’s claim about an IED attack in Rafah is false. The movement said the explosion came from unexploded Israeli munitions left behind by the Israeli army itself.
Hamas confirmed that the explosion took place in a zone fully under the control of the Zionist occupation forces, where no Palestinians are present or working. "We had previously warned about the presence of war remnants in this area and others, and we are not responsible for them since the implementation of the agreement began, especially the remnants planted by the occupation itself in the area", it stated.
"We call for obligating the occupation to implement the agreements it signed and to stop fabricating pretexts to continue escalation and attempts to sabotage the agreement, particularly as the resistance affirms and continues to affirm its commitment to the agreement and the obligations arising from it."
Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi said the blast did not result from a resistance operation. He said it was caused by unexploded ordnance abandoned by Israeli forces in Rafah. He added that Hamas informed mediators of this finding.
Earlier, the Israeli army claimed an explosive device hit a military vehicle during an operation in Rafah. It claimed that the blast caused light injuries to an officer from the Golani Brigade. The army described the incident as an IED attack and announced an investigation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whi is wanted by the ICC over war crimes in Gaza, quickly accused Hamas of violating the Gaza ceasefire. His office claimed Hamas planted the explosive device. It threatened a “suitable response” and renewed calls to disarm Hamas and remove it from power.
Israel often makes such claims to create a pretext for further attacks on civilians in Gaza.
The incident came as Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling hit areas in southern and northern Gaza. Hamas said Israel continues to violate the ceasefire daily without accountability.
Israeli forces have committed nearly 900 ceasefire violations since the agreement in October. These violations include killings, bombardment, destruction of property, and live fire across the Gaza Strip.
