The Israeli military conduced strikes against Hamas in Gaza on Sunday (October 19) amid claims that the militant group violated its ceasefire agreement by carrying out "multiple attacks" since Friday (October 17).
An Israeli military official initially confirmed the strikes in a statement to FOX News, citing prior alleged attacks by Hamas, before the IDF issued a statement confirming that it was taking actions in Gaza later in the day.
"Earlier today, terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement," the IDF said.
"In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity," the statement continued.
Israel's retaliation strikes targeted the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that he instructed the minister of defense and other security leaders to "act forcefully" when carrying out the retaliation attacks.
Hamas said it had "no knowledge" of any attacks on Israel in its own statement released on Sunday, claiming it was adhering to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
"We affirm our full commitment to implementing everything that has been agreed upon, foremost among which is the ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip. We have no knowledge of any events or clashes taking place in the Rafah area," the group said.
"We have no connection to any events occurring in those areas, nor can we communicate with any of our fighters there if any of them remain alive," the statement added.
The reported attacks came days after Hamas said it intends to maintain security control in Gaza and defended public executions against Palestinians that followed a peace deal with Israel that ended the two sides' yearslong war. Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal claimed that "exceptional measures" needed to be taken in Gaza in a statement to Reuters addressing criticism for the public killings that took place on Monday (October 13), while also refusing to commit to the group disarming, a key demand by President Donald Trump in the deal brokered with Israel.