Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday instructed the IDF to deliver a message to Hamas leaders in Gaza via the American monitoring mechanism following several instances of terrorists approaching Israeli forces across the Yellow Line.
“Every Hamas terrorist located beyond the Yellow Line in territory under Israeli control must evacuate immediately,” Katz said. “Hamas leaders will be held responsible for any incident.”
The IDF shot at several terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line and approached Israeli troops operating in Shejaia, the military stated on Monday.
Shortly after the first incident, the IDF reported a second incident of terrorists approaching toops across the Yellow Line and posing an immediate threat.
Hamas breaks ceasefire
Hamas broke the ceasefire agreement with Israel on Sunday by firing anti-tank missiles and gunshots toward Israeli soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since ordered a "forceful response" against the terror group, including the closure of all crossings into Gaza and the halt of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
A third soldier was seriously wounded in the same incident and was taken to a hospital for immediate treatment.
Netanyahu sent his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers. "On behalf of the entire people of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Nahal Brigade soldiers – Maj. Yaniv Kula and Staff-Sgt. Itay Ya'avetz, of blessed memory – who fell in the difficult incident in Rafah," he said.