Israel says soldiers targeted with explosives, Hamas says Israel breached ceasefire

The Israel Defense Forces says that three explosive devices went off and terrorists opened fire near its troops in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday in violation of the temporary ceasefire, while Hamas is accusing Israel of breaking the temporary truce. 

"Over the last hour, 3 explosive devices were detonated adjacent to IDF troops in 2 different locations in northern Gaza, violating the framework of the operational pause," the Israeli military wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "In one of the locations, terrorists also opened fire at the troops, who responded with fire. A number of soldiers were lightly injured during the incidents."

The Israeli troops were located in positions that were agreed upon as part of the pause, the military also said.

Meanwhile, Abu Obaida, a spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, blamed Israel for the ceasefire violation.

"Due to a clear breach by the enemy of the ceasefire agreement in the north of the Gaza Strip today, a field friction occurred, and our fighters dealt with this breach. We are committed to the truce as long as the enemy adheres to it, and we call on the mediators to pressure the occupation to comply with all terms of the truce on the ground and in the air," he said, according to an English-language outlet aligned with Hamas.

The Al-Qassam Brigades also said in Arabic on the messaging platform Telegram that "a landmine exploded in a number of occupation soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip," but the group did not address the causes of the other landmines, nor did it take responsibility for said explosive devices.

Israel and Hamas on Monday agreed to extend a temporary ceasefire for two more days in the Gaza Strip, after originally agreeing to a four-day ceasefire which would see 50 kidnapped women and children freed from Gaza in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians convicted or suspected of terrorism. 

It is unclear whether the current ceasefire is at risk of dissolving due to the latest clash in the Gaza Strip.

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