Gaza ceasefire tested as Israel and Hamas exchange fire and blame

"The Israeli army launched a barrage of attacks in Gaza on Tuesday as tensions with Hamas grew two weeks into a fragile ceasefire, and the group responded by saying it would delay handing over the body of a hostage. At least seven Palestinians were killed, health officials said. The flare-up of violence presented one of the biggest tests so far for the truce and had international mediators scrambling to prevent it from collapsing."

"The order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch powerful strikes came after an Israeli official said its forces were fired upon in southern Gaza and after Hamas handed over body parts on Monday that Israel said were the partial remains of a hostage recovered earlier in the war. Netanyahu called the return of these body parts a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return the remaining hostages in Gaza as soon as possible."

"Israeli officials also accused Hamas of staging the discovery of these remains on Monday, sharing a 14-minute edited video captured by a military drone in Gaza. Israel notified the United States before launching the strikes on Tuesday, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. In Gaza City, at least two Palestinians were killed by strikes, according to Rami Mhanna, the managing director of Shifa hospital, where the bodies were taken."

The Israeli army launched a barrage of attacks in Gaza as tensions with Hamas rose two weeks into a fragile ceasefire. Hamas said it would delay handing over the body of a hostage. At least seven Palestinians were killed, including two children, with strikes reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis. Israeli forces said they were fired upon in southern Gaza prior to the strikes. Israel said Hamas handed over body parts it called partial remains of a hostage and labeled that a ceasefire violation. Israeli officials accused Hamas of staging the discovery and shared an edited drone video. Israel notified the United States before the strikes.

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