Israeli warships and tanks shell Rafah in southern Gaza. This was reported by the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera.
Israeli warships, located off the coast of southern Gaza, opened fire in the direction of the coastal part of Rafah. At the same time, there were reports of Israeli tanks shelling Rafah, the TV channel noted.
“The attack is the latest violation of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza by Israeli forces“, Al Jazeera reported.
In mid-January, Israel and the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, agreed to implement a ceasefire that came into effect on January 19. The first phase of the agreement was completed on March 1, with 33 hostages returned to Israel within 42 days.
On March 2, Israel blocked humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and closed all crossings in connection with Hamas's refusal to accept the plan of US special envoy Stephen Witkoff to continue ceasefire talks in the enclave.
On March 7, the Ynet portal reported that the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Eyal Zamir had approved a new plan for an offensive in the Gaza Strip.
On March 8, Kan Radio reported that Israel's political leadership, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had ordered the army to immediately prepare for the resumption of military operations in Gaza.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler will leave his post. This is reported by the Axios portal, citing sources in the White House.
According to them, the resignation was planned and is connected with the desire of the Trump administration to give Boehler broader powers in another position.
At the same time, Axios notes, Boehler has received increased media attention due to his recent participation in direct negotiations with the Palestinian movement Hamas for the release of American hostages and the possibility of concluding a broader ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.