Israel strikes 'rocket launch site' near Gaza City amid questions over next ceasefire phase

Israel’s military says it has carried out a targeted strike on a rocket launch site near Gaza City after identifying a failed launch amid questions over when the next phase of the Gaza Strip ceasefire will begin.

The military said the projectile did not cross into Israeli territory and that the launch site was struck shortly after the attempt was detected.

It accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire twice in the past 24 hours.

A source from the Palestinian militant group told Reuters it was checking the allegation.

Further highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire deal, local Palestinian health ‌authorities said two people - a woman and a boy - had been injured on Thursday in two separate shooting incidents by Israeli forces ‍in southern and northern parts of the enclave.

There was no immediate Israeli comment on the report.

Israel is awaiting the handover of the final body due under the current stage of the truce.

An Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not move to the next phase of the ceasefire until Hamas returns the remains of the last Israeli hostage still held in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has yet to open the Rafah crossing between the strip and Egypt, which is another condition of ‌the US-backed plan, saying it will only do so once the remains are returned.

Israel and Hamas have accused each other of major breaches of the ceasefire deal and remain far apart on the more difficult steps envisaged for the next phase.

Israel has continued to carry out ‍air strikes and targeted operations across the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military said it views “with utmost severity” any attempts by militant groups in the Gaza Strip to attack Israel.

A Hamas official told Reuters on Thursday the group had documented more than 1100 Israeli violations of the ceasefire since October and had urged mediators to intervene.

The violations include killings, injuries, artillery and aerial strikes, home demolitions and detention of people, he said.

Hamas has refused to disarm and has been reasserting its control as Israeli troops remain entrenched in about half the Gaza Strip.

Israel has said it will resume military action if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully.

More than 400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the truce, according to Gazan health officials, as well as three Israeli soldiers.

Hamas-led militants killed 1200 people and abducted 251 others in an assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures.

More than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip since then, according ‍to the territory’s health ministry.