Israeli forces in Gaza on Saturday fired on a suspect after warning shots were ignored, in just one of several incidents straining the fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
The suspect was moving toward Israel Defense Forces troops in southern Gaza, who “fired warning shots to distance him,” according to the IDF Spokesman’s office. They fired additional shots to “remove” the suspect after he ignored the warning shots, the statement said. It did not say whether the man was hit.
In another incident, the Israel Air Force fired in the direction of “suspicious vehicles that were advancing northward from the central Gaza Strip along a non-approved route,” without passing through an agreed-upon inspection route, according to the statement. The statement did not specify whether any of the vehicles were hit.
“The IDF is committed to fully implementing the conditions of the agreement for the return of the hostages,” and “is prepared for any scenario,” the army said.
The weekend friction follows similar incidents last week.
The IDF on Friday redeployed from the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza to outposts along the perimeter of the Strip as part of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Also last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered security forces to prepare a plan that would enable the departure of Gazans who wish to leave the Strip.
His order followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last week of his relocation plan for the enclave.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, that went into effect between Israel and Hamas on Jan. 19, Hamas is to release over 33 hostages over 42 days in exchange for more than 700 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,000 detainees. So far, 16 of those hostages have been released. Israel has redeployed in the Gaza Strip as part of the agreement and has allowed the return of civilians to much of the Gaza Strip.
Under the agreement, Hamas and Israel are to discuss the terms of the ceasefire’s second phase during the first phase, which is due to end on March 1.