Attacks were carried out in Rafah in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday said it carried out large-scale strikes against Hamas targets in Rafah in southern Gaza following alleged violations of the ceasefire reached earlier this month.

According to the IDF, militants on Sunday fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward troops operating to dismantle "terrorist infrastructure" in the area "in accordance with the ceasefire agreement." Israeli troops responded with several airstrikes on what it called terror targets.

"The IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity," the military said in a statement. It also claimed that several attacks by alleged Hamas militants took place on Friday and Saturday. "These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly."

Media reports earlier also claimed that the IDF had struck targets in Jabalia and other parts of southern Gaza, including the town of Abassan near Khan Younis, Zawayda and Deir Al-Balah, but the IDF statement did not mention them.

After being briefed on the situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF "to take firm action against terror targets in the Gaza Strip," according to a statement from his office.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that "Hamas will learn today the hard way that the IDF is determined to protect its soldiers and to prevent any harm to them." According to a military source, more than 20 targets have been struck so far since the attack in Rafah this morning.

"Hamas will pay a heavy price for any shooting and violation of the ceasefire, and if the message is not understood, the intensity of the responses will increase," Katz said in a statement carried by Israeli media.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW