The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has successfully confronted Israeli forces who were violating a ceasefire in Gaza hours after it was extended for a brief period.
A spokesman of Hamas’ military wing, known as Qassam Brigades, said on Tuesday that the clashes that had erupted in northern Gaza earlier in the day between the Brigades and the Israeli forces were a result of Israelis’ blatant violation of the truce.
However, the spokesman, who goes by his nom de guerre Abu Obaida, told Al Jazeera that Hamas will stick to its commitments under the ceasefire deal as long as Israel observes its obligations.
The comments came after reports suggested that Israeli forces had sought to advance from their positions in northern Gaza earlier on Tuesday despite the ceasefire.
The reports said the Israelis had to return to their positions after they were confronted by the Qassam Brigades.
Hamas and Israel started to implement a four-day ceasefire mediated by Qatar and several other countries in early hours of Friday.
The deal forced the Israeli regime to halt its aggression on Gaza that had lasted for 49 days and had claimed the lives of over 15,000 people.
It also allowed Hamas to exchange Israeli captives it took during a blitz into occupied Palestine in early October with Palestinians held by Israel.
The two sides agreed late Monday to extend the truce deal for two more days.
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7 after an unprecedented operation by Hamas against Israel led to some 1,400 deaths among Israeli settlers and military forces.
The Israeli regime then used the operation as a pretext to launch a relentless military campaign against Gaza.
Many countries around the world are pressing for a permanent end to the Israeli regime’s carnage against the civilian population in Gaza.
