6 Gunmen Killed in Rafah Following What IDF Calls ‘Serious Violation’ of Ceasefire
By The Media Line Staff
The IDF reports six gunmen were killed in retaliation on Tuesday for what it says is a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreement that took effect in October.
Soldiers from the 7th Armored Brigade eliminated the armed operatives in western Rafah, according to a statement.
Around 8 p.m., an IDF observer spotted six men crossing into the Israeli side of the Yellow Line in Gaza. A tank fired at the suspects, and when the gunmen responded by hitting the tank, extended fighting ensued.
The bodies of two gunmen were discovered initially, and following a search on Wednesday morning, the remains of the other four were found.
Two IDF soldiers were lightly injured by shrapnel during the firefight.
Israel’s military emphasized that the gunmen’s actions constituted a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and that it will continue to take needed steps to maintain security.
News of violence in Rafah comes as President Donald Trump is expected to unveil the second phase of his Gaza initiative on Wednesday, a step that includes creating the Board of Peace and assembling a Palestinian technocratic administration to run the territory on an interim basis, sources familiar with the matter told I24 News.
The expected announcement comes as Hamas continues to breach the ceasefire each day, and the remains of the last deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, still have not been returned.
According to the 20-point plan unveiled in October, the first phase of the ceasefire requires the return of all hostages from the Gaza Strip. Gvili is the only one of the 251 people abducted on Oct. 7 still unaccounted for.
Advocates and families of hostages have urged the Israeli government not to proceed with phase two of the ceasefire agreement until Gvili’s remains are returned. Although Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have denied that they know where his remains are, Israeli officials have questioned this claim.
For the longer term, the plan offers rental support of 3,000 shekels per month for families moving to northern and southern regions, Judea and Samaria, and Haifa.
Additional provisions include expanded Hebrew-language instruction, new educational guidance programs, extra academic support, and potential dedicated schools for immigrants from the affected countries.
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