DEIR AL-BALAH (VINnews) — The Israel Defense Forces struck a Hamas underground terror infrastructure site in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, targeting facilities the terrorist group was attempting to restore in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

The IDF said it identified Hamas efforts to rebuild the infrastructure in Deir al-Balah in recent weeks. Three targets within the underground site were hit in order to dismantle it, according to the military.

“Hamas terrorist organization systematically embeds its infrastructure in the heart of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, cynically exploiting civilians and using them as human shields to advance terrorist attacks,” the IDF stated.

Prior to the strike, the military took steps to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and “will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the statement added.

The strike comes amid ongoing tensions following the ceasefire, with the IDF accusing Hamas of attempting to reconstitute its military capabilities in violation of the terms.