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The United States has warned of “credible reports” indicating that Hamas is planning an “imminent” attack in Gaza that would breach the current ceasefire, according to a statement from the US Department of State on Sunday.
The warning came as Israel said Hamas handed over two more coffins of deceased hostages under the ongoing phased peace deal, even as tensions rose over the closure of Gaza’s Rafah crossing.
In the statement, the US Department of State said Washington had informed the “guarantor nations” of the Gaza peace agreement, including Egypt and Qatar, about intelligence suggesting Hamas could violate the truce.
https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1979670820042559983 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” the statement read.
The department said that if Hamas proceeds with such an attack, “measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire”.
“The United States and the other guarantors remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians, maintaining calm on the ground, and advancing peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza and the region as a whole,” it added.
Hamas and Israel reached a phased peace deal last week that ended Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in exchange for the release of remaining hostages held by the Palestinian group after its Oct 7, 2023, attack. The first phase, involving the release of living hostages and the return of remains, is currently being implemented.
According to AP, Israel said Hamas handed over “two coffins of deceased hostages” from Gaza on Saturday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the bodies were being transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.
No names were released, but Netanyahu urged Hamas to accelerate the process.
Israel also announced that the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only link to the outside world, would remain closed “until further notice”, tying its reopening to Hamas’s continued release of hostages’ remains.
AP reported that Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire deal, saying the devastation and Israeli control in parts of Gaza had slowed the handover process.
Hamas has so far returned the remains of 12 of the 28 dead hostages in Gaza.
The Rafah crossing, under Israeli control since May 2024, has been a key humanitarian concern. A full reopening would allow Gazans to seek medical treatment and reunite with relatives in Egypt, home to tens of thousands of Palestinians.
(With inputs from agencies)
