Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Wednesday that Israel would take action in response to an explosion that left a military officer injured in Gaza. Hamas denied involvement, suggesting the blast may have been caused by leftover explosives from previous conflicts. Netanyahu, speaking at an air force pilot graduation ceremony, referenced the incident in Rafah and criticized Hamas for not adhering to the disarmament agreement outlined in the October truce.
The Israeli military confirmed that an explosive device detonated against a military vehicle in Rafah, resulting in minor injuries to an officer. Hamas countered, stating that the incident occurred in an area under full Israeli control and reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire agreement reached on October 10.
Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation engaged in discussions with mediators in Cairo regarding the repatriation of the remains of the last Israeli hostage, police officer Ran Gvili, from Gaza. The delegation, comprising officials from the Israeli military, Shin Bet, and Mossad, convened to address the provisions outlined in a 20-point plan put forth by U.S. President Donald Trump in September, aimed at fostering peace in the region.
Netanyahu emphasized the importance of progressing towards broader peace and addressing ongoing security threats, including disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon and dealing with Iran-backed groups in Yemen and Iran itself. He underscored Israel’s readiness to confront emerging dangers while expressing a commitment to peaceful resolutions.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump to discuss the next steps in implementing the Gaza peace plan. In response, Hamas, through its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, engaged with Turkish officials in Ankara to address Israeli violations of the ceasefire, hindering the advancement to the next phase of the agreement.