At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across northern and central Gaza, Hamas medical and civil defense officials report. The air strikes targeted multiple sites, including residential homes, and are claimed to have resulted in the death of a senior Hamas commander.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes were a retaliatory measure following an incident earlier in the day when an 'armed terrorist' allegedly fired at its soldiers after crossing the Gaza Strip’s 'yellow line,' which marks areas under complete Israeli control; a claim that Hamas denies.
Both Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of breaching the ceasefire agreement established six weeks prior, with over 310 Palestinians reported killed in air strikes since its implementation, as per Gaza's health ministry.
The air raids, which occurred in densely populated areas such as Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Nuseirat camp, resulted in substantial civilian casualties. Reports indicate that the strikes destroyed several houses, including those of the Abu Amouneh and Abu Shawish families, leading to numerous fatalities.
The Israeli government justified the strikes by accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire through aggressive actions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office actively called for mediation to ensure Hamas adheres to the ceasefire terms. In turn, Hamas criticized the strikes as blatant violations, urging international mediators and the U.S. for intervention to prevent Israel from altering the status quo in the region.
This recent wave of violence draws attention to the ongoing conflict and reflects the deteriorating conditions on the ground in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation has worsened significantly after the escalation of military actions following the deadly Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties and hostages.
