At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The attacks reportedly included a strike on a ministry of religious endowments building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, which resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including a woman and a young girl.
The Israeli military defended its actions by claiming it had targeted 'Hamas terrorist targets' after gunmen allegedly fired at their troops in Khan Younis, which they stated violated the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for Hamas's Civil Defence agency, indicated that the air, drone, and artillery strikes hit multiple areas shortly after sunset, escalating tensions following several days of relative calm. The strikes caused severe destruction, including the total collapse of the religious endowments ministry's building, with rescue operations being conducted on-site.
International attention is drawn to this resurgence in violence following the UN Security Council's endorsement of a resolution aimed at establishing a governance body and an International Stabilisation Force in Gaza, signaling a precarious situation for peace and stability in the region.
Since the offensive began in response to a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, over 69,500 deaths have been reported in Gaza, with the ongoing conflict presenting significant humanitarian challenges.
