ALBAWABA - Early on Sunday, Israeli forces stepped up their military operations in southern Gaza. They launched a wave of coordinated air, sea, and ground attacks on Rafah, Khan Yunis, and the surrounding areas, even though a ceasefire agreement was still in effect.
Al Jazeera reporters say that the Israeli military carried out six airstrikes east of Rafah, along with big demolition explosions and raids that swept through the so-called "Yellow Line" east of Khan Yunis. This is the area that Israel took during its most recent ground invasion.
Strikes also hit Bani Suhaila, which is east of Khan Yunis, while heavy artillery fire was going on all over the sector.
According to local sources, Israeli armored units near the Morag axis northeast of Rafah opened fire during sweeping operations, and Israeli naval vessels bombarded the western coastline.
Anadolu Agency confirmed that there was an airstrike east of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. This was outside the area that Israel controls under Phase One of the ceasefire deal. Israeli planes also hit places east of Gaza City, and helicopters fired heavy machine guns over Jabalia in the north.
Israel speeds up the "cleansing" of the Yellow Line
Israel's Channel 12, quoting a security source, said that the military plans to completely clear the Yellow Line in the next few weeks. Israeli intelligence says that Hamas can still make bombs and is working to rebuild its military networks and smuggle weapons using drones.
Reports say that Israel told mediators that about 50 Hamas fighters are still east of Rafah and gave them the option to give up.
According to Channel 12, people who turn themselves in will be held in Israel for a short time before being released, but only if they promise to stop fighting.
Violations of the ceasefire and the collapse of humanitarian aid
Even though there is a truce, Israel is still attacking, which has killed hundreds of people in the last few weeks and made it harder for food and medical supplies to get into the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire, which was based on a U.S. peace plan, was meant to stop what international groups call a "genocidal campaign." More than 70,000 Palestinians have died and 170,000 have been hurt since October 2023. Most of the hurt are women and children.
A Secret Israeli Requirement for Phase Two
According to the Israeli news site Walla, U.S. officials were told by Israeli political and security officials that Israel would not move to Phase Two of the ceasefire until all the bodies of Israeli hostages were found in Gaza.
The report says that Israel is putting pressure on Hamas through Washington and other mediators. However, officials privately admit that the U.S. is unlikely to agree to a return to major combat just to get the bodies back.
