Rafah Incident Strains Gaza Ceasefire

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza is under strain after Israel said it struck Hamas targets following an incident in Rafah in which Israeli troops came under fire; no Israeli injuries were reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security chiefs and ordered "strong action" against ceasefire violations but stopped short of saying Israel would return to full-scale war. Hamas denied responsibility for the Rafah incident, said its local command was severed from operatives there, and rejected U.S. State Department warnings of an imminent breach as propaganda aligned with Israel. The U.S. said it had "credible reports" of a possible imminent Hamas violation and urged mediators to act. Israel said it identified the remains of two bodies handed over by Hamas and kept the Rafah crossing closed to press for additional returns. Observers described the exchange of strikes, accusations and international warnings as the first major test of the pause and said it dims hopes for a lasting ceasefire.