Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza on Sunday, Israeli media reported, undermining hopes that a week-old U.S.-brokered cease-fire would hold as both Israel and Hamas traded blame for renewed violence.
Israel's military said in a statement that the strikes targeted Palestinian resistance members in the Rafah area who had opened fire on its soldiers. It said the attacks destroyed tunnels and military buildings.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would retaliate forcefully to Hamas attacks on its soldiers.
Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Risheq denied the Israeli claim, stressing his group's commitment to the cease-fire agreement, which he accused Israel of violating by "fabricating flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes."
Hamas' military wing, meanwhile, said that it remained committed to the cease-fire agreement in all of Gaza, adding that it was unaware of clashes in Rafah and that it has not been in contact with groups there since March.
