Hamas denies responsibility for attack on Israeli forces in Rafah

Reuters

Hamas on Tuesday (October 28) denied responsibility for an attack on Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which triggered renewed Israeli strikes across the enclave.

In a statement, the militant Palestinian group said it “had no involvement” in the reported incident and reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that has largely held in recent weeks.

Earlier in the day, Israeli media outlets reported an exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters in Rafah, though the Israeli military has not commented on the reports.

The alleged clash came hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “forceful attacks” on Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the truce — a claim the group has strongly rejected.

Hamas said it continues to uphold the terms of the ceasefire and accused Israel of using the incident as a pretext to escalate military action.

The renewed tension in Rafah underscores the fragility of the ceasefire, which has been repeatedly tested by isolated exchanges of fire and accusations from both sides. International mediators, including the United States and Egypt, have urged restraint to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.

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