(JEWISH VOICE NEWS) Hamas is signaling that the fragile Gaza cease-fire may be collapsing, telling U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that the truce is effectively “over” and that its fighters are “ready to fight,” according to Saudi state-owned outlet Al Arabiya — a warning first highlighted by the Jerusalem Post and echoed in reporting from the NY Post.

The reversal came after Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes in Gaza on Saturday, killing Alaa Hadidi, Hamas’ chief of weapons supply, in what Hamas blasted as a blatant violation of the U.S.-brokered cease-fire. The Israel Defense Forces said the operation was triggered by a Hamas operative who entered the humanitarian relief corridor and opened fire on Israeli troops — an incident NY Post reported Israel cited as justification for the strike.

Israel released footage showing a gunman dressed in black crossing the designated military withdrawal line using a vehicle that IDF officials say “exploited” the humanitarian route. After exiting the car, the attacker is seen firing a long-range rifle before being shot dead by Israeli soldiers.

According to the IDF, five Hamas operatives were killed in three separate strikes in Rafah and northern Gaza that day. Another senior figure, Abu Abdullah al-Hudaydi — described by Al Arabiya as a senior operations commander in Hamas’ military wing — was also reportedly eliminated.

U.S. officials told the Times of Israel they supported the Israeli response, arguing that Hamas’ leadership outside Gaza cannot control increasingly rogue fighters on the ground. Washington, they said, views Saturday’s events as proof that Hamas had breached the cease-fire first — a position NY Post also noted in its reporting.

Still, an Arab diplomat involved in the mediation said regional officials believe Israel’s retaliation was excessively forceful, claiming the strikes resulted in heavy civilian casualties. Hamas has asserted that 21 Palestinians were killed, though those numbers remain unverified.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later confirmed that Israeli forces had killed five high-ranking Hamas operatives in connection with Saturday’s violations. Netanyahu posted that Hamas “violated the ceasefire again” by sending a gunman across the withdrawal line to attack IDF troops, noting that “dozens” of Hamas fighters have crossed into prohibited zones since the truce began.

Hamas, meanwhile, told Al Arabiya that Gaza “will not become another Lebanon” — a reference to what it considers a prolonged, lopsided cease-fire with Israel. Mediators were warned the group may withdraw from the arrangement entirely.

Israeli officials say they have adhered to the cease-fire terms while Hamas has not — and urged mediators to pressure the terror group to comply with President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which includes returning the bodies of three Israeli hostages, completing disarmament benchmarks, and allowing progress toward full demilitarization of the Strip.

As the situation deteriorates, U.S. and Arab intermediaries are scrambling to determine whether Saturday’s events mark a temporary flare-up — or the unraveling of the already precarious cease-fire agreement.