The Israel Defense Forces fired warning shots at suspects throughout the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, saying in a statement that the Palestinians posed a threat to troops deployed to the coastal enclave during the ceasefire.
The IDF also opened fire toward “a number of vessels that violated security restrictions in the Gaza Strip’s maritime space,” it stated.
“The vessels did not move away, but after additional firing, they returned to shore,” according to the statement on Tuesday night.
The army reiterated its call to “obey IDF instructions, not approach forces deployed in the area and pass through agreed checkpoints.”
Hamas has agreed “in principle” to bring forward the release of the four remaining hostage bodies scheduled to be returned from Gaza only later this week, an Israeli official told Channel 12 earlier on Tuesday.
The return of the remains would mark the last hostage release of the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire deal, which is expected to end on March 1.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told reporters on Feb. 18 that the Israeli Cabinet has decided to start talks on Phase 2 of the truce, which would see the remaining living hostages—civilians and soldiers—freed in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
As part of the talks, Jerusalem will demand the complete disarmament of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Strip, Sa’ar stressed.
Jerusalem will reportedly also demand the expulsion of the Hamas leadership from Gaza and the dismantling of its terrorist army. Israeli officials believe that Hamas is likely to reject these demands.
