Tel Aviv, Oct 29, (dpa/GNA) – Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned Hamas that it would pay a “heavy price” for attacking Israeli soldiers in Gaza and violating an agreement on the return of deceased hostages, his office said.
Katz said Tuesday’s attack by militants in southern Gaza had crossed a “glaring red line” and that, the Israeli military would respond with “great force.”
“Hamas will pay many times over for attacking the soldiers, and for violating the agreement to return the fallen hostages,” he added.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Palestinians had attacked soldiers in Rafah earlier on Tuesday, including with a rocket-propelled grenade, and that a sniper was also involved in the assault.
A short time earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out immediate “powerful” strikes, testing a tenuous ceasefire in place since October 10.
Israeli media reported that strikes, were hitting Gaza City and other areas of Gaza on Tuesday evening.
Adding to the anger in Israel is the failure of Hamas to hand over 13 deceased hostages, who remain in Gaza.
GNA