Hamas says committed to ceasefire agreement despite Israeli 'violations'

GAZA -- Hamas said Wednesday it is committed to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, and accused Israel of violating it.

In a press statement, Hamas said Israel's recent attacks in Gaza reveal its "intention to undermine the ceasefire agreement and impose new realities by force, amid the US administration's complicity."

The statement came as Israel and Hamas have been trading blame for ceasefire violations in recent days.

On Tuesday, Israel said the remains delivered by Hamas Monday night were body parts belonging to a hostage whose body had already been recovered by the Israeli army around two years ago.

Later, a Hamas source said Israel had rejected the entry of teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross and Palestinian factions into eastern Gaza City to search for the remains of Israeli captives.

Israel's state-owned Army Radio then reported that Israeli forces fired artillery into the southern Gazan city of Rafah after Hamas targeted Israeli troops and shot dead an Israeli soldier. Hamas denied any involvement in the incident.

Shortly after, Israel began carrying out renewed strikes in Gaza under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's instruction, following what Israel said were Hamas's violations of the ceasefire.

The overnight strikes have killed 104 Palestinians, including 46 children and 20 women, Gaza-based health authorities said Wednesday.

In response, Hamas said it had postponed the handover of the body of an Israeli hostage scheduled for late Tuesday, accusing Israel of committing violations of the ceasefire agreement.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire would hold, adding that Israel "should hit back" as its soldier was killed. Later, the Israeli military said it "has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire" after the wave of airstrikes.