Hamas urged mediators to pressure Israel to uphold the Gaza ceasefire after Israeli strikes killed civilians, while Tel Aviv threatened to enforce the truce “by force.”

The Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas urged mediators on Wednesday to compel Israel to honor the ceasefire agreement, as Tel Aviv threatened to enforce its terms by force.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the movement is closely following up on the terms of the agreement concerning the return of the bodies of Israeli soldiers held by the Al-Qassam Brigades, its military wing, as part of its commitment to the Gaza ceasefire.

In remarks carried by Palestinian media, Qassem accused Israel of violating the truce after its forces killed civilians in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City and in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, the Israeli government announced that it would keep the Rafah crossing closed and reduce humanitarian aid entering the Strip, citing Hamas’ “delay” in returning the bodies of Israeli captives — despite the handover of four additional bodies the previous evening.

First Ceasefire Violation: Six Palestinians Killed by Israeli Forces in Shejaiya

By Tuesday night, the Al-Qassam Brigades had transferred the remains of eight Israeli captives out of an estimated 28 believed to be in their custody.

As Israel continues to breach the ceasefire, five Palestinians were killed by Israeli drone fire on Tuesday while inspecting their homes in the Shejaiyya area, east of Gaza City.

The Israeli army claimed the victims had crossed the “yellow line,” referring to the area marking the army’s withdrawal point under the first phase of the ceasefire.

Another Palestinian was killed and several others were wounded by Israeli drone strikes north of Rafah and around Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned of an “immediate and forceful response” to any truce violation, asserting that Israel’s policy is to “enforce the agreement without compromise.”

Al-Qassam Brigades Honor Secret ‘Shadow Unit’ after Prisoner Handover

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office echoed the statement, saying the government and security agencies are “determined and working relentlessly” to recover the bodies of all Israelis killed in Gaza so that they can receive a proper burial.

It also called on Hamas to “fulfill its commitments to mediators” and hand over all bodies as part of the truce’s implementation, pledging that Israel “will not relent” until all Israeli remains are returned.

The ceasefire came into effect last Friday. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced the beginning of the agreement’s second phase, following the completion of the first, which included a cessation of hostilities, partial Israeli withdrawal, and the release of 20 living Israeli captives.

(PC, AJA)