At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across northern and central Gaza, according to medical and civil defense officials. The strikes targeted five sites, including residential homes, and resulted in the death of a senior Hamas commander.
The Israeli military justified its actions by claiming they were in response to an incident where an 'armed terrorist' allegedly fired at soldiers after crossing a designated control line. Hamas has denied these allegations.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaching a ceasefire deal established six weeks ago, with the ongoing violence raising concerns about the stability of the region.
Since the ceasefire began, more than 310 Palestinians have reportedly died in Israeli strikes. The attacks on Saturday specifically targeted areas in Gaza City as well as Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.
The civil defense reported significant casualties in the Rimal area of Gaza City, where an airstrike set a car ablaze, killing five. Additional strikes resulted in deaths near a mosque in Deir al-Balah and multiple fatalities in Nuseirat.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office responded to the strikes, emphasizing that their military action was necessary to eliminate threats posed by Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas has urged mediators, including the United States, to intervene, warning that Israel's actions could derail the fragile ceasefire.
This episode is part of a larger conflict following a massive attack by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in heavy casualties. Since then, the violence has intensified, leading to significant loss of life on both sides.
