Israeli military says Hamas has broken ceasefire as Trump's peace on knife edge

Israel's military has launched an attack in Gaza after its troops came under fire. Israeli troops were attacked in southern Gaza's Rafah prompting the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to retaliate with airstrikes, The Times Of Israel has reported. An Israeli military official said Hamas had carried out "multiple attacks" against Israeli forces beyond the yellow line. These are the areas under Israeli military control.

The official said: "The attacks included an RPG shot at a military force, and a sniper fire against a military force." Despite the attack, a senior Hamas official claims the group is "committed to the ceasefire agreement". This comes after Israel's military said "several terrorists" opened fire on its soldiers in the Rafah area on Friday. It added that it struck another group of "terrorists" that were approaching its troops on the same day.

On Sunday, the US State Department warned that Hamas is planning an "imminent" attack on civilians in Gaza which would be a violation of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

It said: "This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts.

"The guarantors demand Hamas uphold its obligations under the ceasefire terms."

The US said if Hamas proceeded with the attack, "measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire".

However, Hamas denied these accusations, and instead accused Israel of forming, arming and funding "criminal gangs" that carried out murders, kidnappings and aided looting.

It insisted that the terrorist group's forces were upholding their duties by pursuing the Israeli gangs.

Hamas said: "The movement calls on the US administration to stop repeating the occupation's misleading narrative."

Discussions are reportedly underway via mediators to launch the second phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan to end the war between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem said the second phase negotiations "require national consensus", and that the terrorist group has started talks.

Phase two, according to Mr Trump's plan, includes disarming Hamas and establishing an interim internationally-run authority in Gaza.

Kassem added that Hamas will not be part of ruling in Gaza. "Government agencies in Gaza continue to perform their duties, as the vacuum is very dangerous, and this will continue until an administrative committee is formed and agreed upon by all Palestinian factions," he said.