Israel's military says it killed four militants who emerged from a tunnel in Rafah and fired on troops, calling the action a 'blatant violation' of the US‑brokered ceasefire. Gaza health officials reported six other deaths the same day, including four in an air strike on an apartment in Gaza City. The second phase of the truce envisions demilitarisation and a phased Israeli withdrawal, but Hamas rejects disarmament as a red line while Israel estimates Hamas still fields about 20,000 fighters and 60,000 rifles.
Four Militants Killed After Emerging From Rafah Tunnel, Israel Says — Ceasefire Tensions Continue
Violence has continued in Gaza despite a US-brokered truce (Omar AL-QATTAA)(Omar AL-QATTAA/AFP/AFP)
Israel's military said on Monday it killed four armed militants who emerged from an underground tunnel shaft in southern Gaza and opened fire on troops, calling the incident a 'blatant violation' of the US‑brokered ceasefire.
Incident Details
In a statement, the Israeli military said soldiers in the Rafah area identified the four men after they fired towards Israeli positions and 'eliminated the terrorists.' The military added that no Israeli soldiers were injured and that forces were continuing operations to clear and secure the tunnel network.
Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al‑Qassam Brigades, described the clash as a 'heroic resistance,' saying its fighters 'refused humiliation or submission in the besieged Rafah valley and chose martyrdom over surrender.'
Casualties and Separate Incidents
Gaza health officials, who operate under Hamas authority, reported six additional fatalities across the territory on the same day in incidents separate from the Rafah tunnel clash, including four people killed when an air strike hit an apartment in Gaza City.
Wider Context
The incident comes as the US‑brokered ceasefire entered a second phase last month. That phase envisions demilitarisation of Gaza and a gradual Israeli withdrawal, while also creating a Palestinian technocratic committee to manage day‑to‑day governance. Israel has said it still controls more than half of Gaza and enforces a 'Yellow Line' boundary around areas such as Rafah.
Demilitarisation remains a major sticking point: Hamas has repeatedly called disarmament a red line, though it has hinted it might consider handing over weapons to a future Palestinian authority. Israeli officials estimate Hamas retains roughly 20,000 fighters and about 60,000 Kalashnikov‑style rifles in Gaza.
Rafah Crossing And Movement
Last week Israel partly reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt — Gaza's only entry that does not pass through Israel — after seizing it in May 2024. Since the limited reopening officials say roughly 180 Palestinians have left. The crossing is currently restricted to people movement (mainly patients and their escorts) and remains closed to large‑scale aid deliveries demanded by humanitarian groups.
Casualty Totals Since Ceasefire
Gaza's health ministry reports at least 581 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire took effect; Israeli military figures report four Israeli soldiers killed in the same period. Both figures come from the respective parties and are difficult to independently verify on the ground.
The situation remains fragile: Israeli forces say they continue targeted operations against tunnel networks near Rafah, and both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire as diplomatic efforts to implement the deal continue.
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