Israeli strikes Gaza,At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, marking one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire began five weeks ago. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the majority of casualties occurred in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood, where a strike targeted a building belonging to the Ministry of Religious Endowments, killing 10 people. The violence erupted after gunfire was exchanged between Hamas militants and Israeli forces, violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Escalating Tensions Amid Ceasefire
The Israeli strikes in Gaza are seen as a significant escalation after days of relative calm. Hamas denounced the Israeli attacks, calling them a “dangerous escalation” that could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire. According to Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal, Israeli airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery bombardments hit several locations in Gaza City and Khan Younis, causing widespread damage.
One of the strikes in Gaza City destroyed a religious endowments building, and a video released by the Civil Defence showed rescuers pulling bodies from the rubble, including the bodies of three children. Another attack targeted a sports club in Khan Younis, killing three people.
The Broader Conflict and International Response
The violence comes amid growing tensions surrounding the UN-backed Gaza peace plan championed by US President Donald Trump. The plan, passed by the UN Security Council, calls for a demilitarized Gaza and significant concessions from Hamas. However, Hamas has firmly rejected the notion of disarmament without a Palestinian state, labeling Israeli actions as “genocide.”
The recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza also follow the deaths of over 100 Palestinians in Israeli prisons and continued violence in Gaza. Human rights organizations have condemned the use of force, including arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings by Israeli forces. Despite international calls for a lasting ceasefire, Israel maintains its stance that it will continue its military operations until Hamas no longer poses a threat.
