Israel Launches Airstrikes on Rafah in Gaza After Accusing Palestinian Resistance of Ceasefire Violation

Israel bombed Rafah in southern Gaza after accusing Palestinian fighters of breaching the US-brokered ceasefire.

“The Israeli air force conducted strikes across the Gaza Strip, including in the northern city of Jabalya”

Haaretz

Israeli strikes killed Palestinians in the area.

Haaretz

Israeli officials said fighters attacked soldiers beyond the Yellow Line near Rafah using sniper fire, a rocket-propelled grenade, and anti-tank missiles.

In response, Israel hit targets in Rafah and other locations.

Reported deaths from Israel’s strikes vary across sources.

At least one person was killed in Rafah.

At least two Palestinians were killed, including in Jabalia.

Gaza’s health ministry reported eight Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours, with ten bodies recovered from rubble.

Some Western outlets noted Israel did not officially confirm the strikes, even as others reported they had already occurred.

Each side accuses the other of breaking the ceasefire.

Gaza authorities document dozens of Israeli breaches killing Palestinians.

Jewish Insider

The U.S. warns that Hamas may attack Palestinian civilians.

Gaza’s government reports 47 Israeli ceasefire violations causing 38 deaths and 143 injuries since the truce began.

Israeli and Israeli-aligned outlets assert that Hamas carried out tunnel, RPG, sniper, and anti-tank attacks against IDF forces.

These outlets label those actions as bold ceasefire breaches, which Hamas denies.

The U.S. State Department told mediators it has credible intelligence that Hamas is planning an imminent attack on Palestinian civilians and pledged protective measures.

Hamas rejects the allegation, and some West Asian reporting frames U.S. messaging as bolstering Israel.

Israel is keeping the Rafah crossing shut and conditioning any reopening on the return of all deceased hostages’ bodies by Hamas.

“Lebanon has extended its ceasefire until February 18 despite ongoing tensions and violations”

PressTV

Aid is restricted and famine has been declared in the area.

The Guardian reports that Israel linked the reopening of Rafah to Hamas returning the bodies and says Hamas has returned 12 of 28 bodies.

Other outlets report that 13 bodies have been returned so far or that a 13th return was imminent.

Hamas states it needs heavy equipment to retrieve remains from under rubble.

Meanwhile, multiple outlets say Israel returned around 150 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, with some showing signs of abuse.

Aid bottlenecks worsen because Israel keeps the Rafah crossing closed.

Several outlets say Israel’s bombing in Rafah also served to protect or support the Yasser Abu Shabab militia inside Gaza.

Palestinians accuse this militia of stealing aid and attacking civilians.

ProtoThema English

The BBC describes the target as an Israel-backed militia and says Hamas fighters hit that group before Israel responded with tank fire and airstrikes.

The Guardian and Middle East Eye report that Israeli jets aided the militia after a Hamas-led security unit struck the militia’s hideout.

PressTV calls it a 'Daesh-linked' militia protected by Israel.

Human rights groups are alarmed by videos of summary executions and militia-linked abuses that further endanger the ceasefire.

Israeli leaders are pushing to escalate the war while casualty data and some analysts’ language depict systematic killing of Palestinians.

“Matt Bradley is an international correspondent for NBC News who is based in Israel”

NBC News

Haaretz cites Gaza’s health ministry stating over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed and 170,000 wounded since October 7, 2023.

NBC News

The Guardian reports Netanyahu saying the Gaza war is 'reaching its conclusion' and planning to name it 'The War of Revival,' even as far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demands more attacks.

Al Jazeera quotes an analyst accusing Israel of 'genocidal actions.'

Jewish Insider and DW note Israeli airstrikes resuming and ministers urging a full return to large-scale operations, while a local Canadian outlet reports Israeli opposition leaders demanding a state commission on the government’s failures.

These accounts underscore that Israel continues killing Palestinians in Gaza despite a nominal ceasefire, and several sources explicitly frame or support framing this as genocide.