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Hamas Warns Israel’s Attacks Threaten Gaza Ceasefire
Hamas says Israel’s ongoing attacks and the killing of commander Raed Saad risk derailing Gaza ceasefire; Netanyahu insists Israel acts independently on security.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-15
Hamas Warns Israel’s Attacks Threaten Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas has warned that Israel’s continued attacks in Gaza are jeopardising the fragile ceasefire agreement and complicating the transition to the second phase of the truce.

In a video statement on Sunday, Hamas Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya confirmed the killing of senior commander Raed Saad in an Israeli strike the previous day. Al-Hayya said, “The continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement … and latest assassinations that targeted Saad and others threaten the viability of the agreement.”

He called on mediators, including US President Donald Trump, “to work on obliging Israel to respect the ceasefire and commit to it.”

Phase one of the October ceasefire, brokered earlier this year, included a halt to hostilities, the return of living captives and the remains of the dead, and access for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The second phase, which has not yet begun, would involve Israeli withdrawal, Palestinian disarmament, and a formal end to the conflict.

Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israeli forces have reportedly carried out nearly 800 attacks in Gaza, resulting in approximately 400 deaths, while blocking humanitarian aid. Israel is awaiting the return of the remains of the last captive, Ran Gvili, before agreeing to move to the second phase.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the killing of Saad, calling him “the primary figure in charge of Hamas’s effort to build up its strength and arm itself within the Strip.” Netanyahu accused Saad of replenishing and smuggling weaponry, saying these actions violated the principles of the Trump peace plan.

The Israeli leader stressed Israel’s autonomy in handling the issue, saying, “Our policy will remain very forceful, and it is an independent one. We decide on the actions; we decide on the responses. We decide what needs to be done to ensure the security of Israel and the security of Israeli soldiers.”

Reports indicate tension between the Netanyahu government and the US over the next steps in the truce. While the Trump administration, as the chief sponsor of the ceasefire, urges swift progress to phase two, Israel maintains that the return of Gvili’s remains is a precondition.

As the situation develops, the future of the Gaza ceasefire remains uncertain, with both sides under international scrutiny to uphold their commitments and prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.
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Israel

Gaza

Hamas

Ceasefire
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