Israeli Peace Council Criticizes Both Sides for Violating Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Officials from the Israeli Peace Council criticized the recent surge of incendiary balloon launches from Gaza into Israeli border communities, stating that violations from both sides of the 20-point ceasefire agreement continue. They emphasized that each breach is immediately addressed through a mechanism led by the U.S. military, which acts swiftly to manage the situation. The council urged both parties to adhere to the agreement, noting that early compliance could lead to the disarmament of Hamas’s heavy and light weapons. They warned that failure to disarm Hamas would prompt Israel to take strong military action with international political support.

The council also sharply criticized recent Israeli Defense Forces operations in Gaza, describing them as tactically insignificant but strategically harmful. According to the council, these actions reinforce Hamas’s control over Gaza’s civilian and military sectors rather than weakening it, as each targeted killing reportedly results in Hamas recruiting hundreds of new fighters.

Meanwhile, dozens of residents from the Gaza border area protested at the Kerem Shalom crossing and near a U.S. military base in southern Gaza. The demonstrators opposed the influx of foreign forces into Gaza before Hamas is fully disarmed and expressed concern over the security risks posed by the ongoing balloon attacks. Danny Rahamim, spokesperson for Kibbutz Nahal Oz, declared that Hamas would not continue to govern Gaza following the October 7 attacks. The protest was organized by the "Tzav 9" movement and the "Gaza Envelope Forum," who called the demonstration an emergency protest against transferring security authority to foreign forces with interests conflicting with Israel’s.