Israel bombs Rafah amid reported Hamas raid on Abu Shabab gang

Israeli fighter jets carried out air strikes on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, in the latest reported violation of the ceasefire.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported the strikes were intended to protect members of the Yasser Abu Shabab militia - an Israeli-backed gang accused of stealing humanitarian aid and attacking Palestinian civilians during Israel's two-year genocidal war on Gaza.

Palestinian outlet Quds Network cited an unnamed source saying that a Hamas‑led internal security unit carried out an operation targeting a hideout belonging to Yasser Abu Shabab east of Rafah.

Middle East Eye could not independently verify the reports.

Abu Shabab, a fugitive convicted of drug trafficking, has led an Israeli-armed militia in the Gaza Strip for more than a year. He is based in southern Rafah under the protection of Israeli troops.

An Israeli military official told Reuters that Hamas fighters carried out "multiple attacks" against Israeli troops during the incident, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. 

The official said the attacks, which allegedly involved a rocket‑propelled grenade and sniper fire, took place beyond the so‑called “Yellow Line” - a demarcation inside Gaza where Israeli forces are stationed.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas on the incident. 

However, Izzat al-Risheq, member of the group's Political Bureau, said in a brief statement that the group was still committed to the ceasefire.

"Hamas movement reaffirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and emphasises that the Zionist occupation is the party continuing to violate the agreement and fabricate baseless pretexts to justify its crimes," Risheq said. 

"[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s attempts to evade and disavow his commitments come under pressure from his extremist terrorist coalition, in a bid to escape his responsibilities before the mediators and guarantors." 

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Separately, Israeli air strikes were reported in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, with initial reports indicating several people were killed or wounded.

Since the ceasefire came into effect on 11 October, Israeli forces have violated it around 50 times, including through artillery shelling, drone strikes, tank fire and quadcopter attacks.

More than 38 Palestinians have been killed in these incidents.

Israel has also violated other terms of the agreement, including restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Following the Rafah incident, ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich urged action. 

Ben Gvir called on Netanyahu to “renew full‑scale fighting in the Strip at full strength”, while Smotrich posted the single word “War!” on X.

Netanyahu was reportedly holding a situational assessment meeting to decide Israel’s next move.