Israel carries out airstrikes in Gaza, casting doubt on fragile ceasefire

The Israeli military carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to local health officials, throwing the tenuous U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas into question

The Israeli military carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to local health officials, throwing the tenuous U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas into question.

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered "powerful" airstrikes on Gaza.

"Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military echelon to carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip immediately," his office said in a statement.

An official from the Israel Defense Forces told NBC News that the command is a result of Hamas' allegedly attacking soldiers in Rafah in an Israeli-controlled area.

NBC News has not independently verified the attack.