Hamas claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack that occurred following an explosion in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, which injured an Israeli officer. In a statement accessed by the Argentine News Agency, the terrorist group stated that the explosion occurred in an area "totally controlled" by Israeli forces where there were no Palestinians present, and that it had warned about the presence of unexploded ordnance in the area and elsewhere, denying any responsibility for such remnants since the ceasefire came into effect, in particular those it claimed were left by Israeli forces. Hamas urged Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement and to avoid actions that, it said, could escalate tensions or undermine the truce. The group reiterated its commitment to the agreement and related obligations. Hours earlier, an Israeli army officer was injured when an explosive device detonated near a Namer armored vehicle in the Al-Jneina neighborhood of Rafah, according to Israeli officials. The Office of the Israeli Prime Minister blamed Hamas for the incident, accusing the group of violating the ceasefire and rejecting the U.S.-backed peace plan. It added that the explosion confirmed Hamas's "violent intentions" and warned that Israel would respond.
