Israeli Peace Council Warns Hamas Amid Ceasefire Violations, Supports Israel's Right to Respond

The Israeli Peace Council has issued a firm message to Hamas amid ongoing violations of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Since Friday, the Council has operated a mechanism to monitor breaches of the ceasefire agreement, receiving reports from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) about repeated violations by Hamas. Council officials emphasized that while they hope Hamas will honor its commitments, they will not stand in the way of Israel responding if Hamas breaks the agreement or attempts to rebuild its military capabilities.

The Council clarified its position, stating it seeks to support the disarmament process but will not provide immunity to terrorist activities. They stressed that Israel will have a free hand to react to any violations. Israel halted its attacks in Gaza about a week ago, with Hamas required to cease all military activity within 48 hours afterward. Despite this, Hamas continues to rebuild and strengthen its forces in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the IDF has tightened its rules of engagement, now firing only to deter militants approaching the border rather than to inflict harm. The Peace Council's stance reflects a balance between encouraging peace efforts and acknowledging Israel's security needs in response to Hamas's actions.