Israel strikes Gaza in fresh test of fragile ceasefire

The Israeli army launched a barrage of attacks in Gaza on Tuesday as tensions with Hamas grew two weeks into a fragile ceasefire, and the militant group responded by saying it would delay handing over the body of a hostage.

Tank fire and explosions were seen and heard in various parts of Gaza, and at least two Palestinians were killed, according to health officials in the territory.

The order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch “powerful strikes” 18 days into the truce came after an Israeli official said its forces were fired upon in southern Gaza and after Hamas handed over body parts on Monday that Israel said were the partial remains of a hostage recovered earlier in the war.

Netanyahu called the return of these body parts a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return the remaining hostages in Gaza as soon as possible.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Hamas would pay a “heavy price for attacking Israeli soldiers in Gaza and for violating the agreement on returning the deceased hostages”.

Israel notified the United States before launching the strikes on Tuesday, according to two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.