At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across northern and central Gaza, Hamas medical and civil defence officials have said.
They said five sites had been hit, including residential homes. A senior Hamas commander was among the dead, according to local sources.
The Israeli military stated it struck targets in Gaza in response to an earlier incident when it claimed an 'armed terrorist' fired at soldiers after crossing the so-called 'yellow line' designating areas under full Israeli control. Hamas has denied this accusation.
Both sides have accused each other of violating a ceasefire deal agreed upon six weeks ago.
Reports indicate that more than 310 Palestinians have died in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire came into effect, according to Gaza's health ministry.
The targeted locations included Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Nuseirat camp. Strikes resulted in multiple civilian deaths, including five killed at the Abbas junction in Gaza City's Rimal area, where an Israeli strike ignited a car. Further casualties occurred near a mosque in Deir al-Balah and during strikes on residential homes in Nuseirat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office highlighted that today's actions were a response to Hamas's violation of the ceasefire, asserting the elimination of five senior Hamas terrorists. The statement called for mediators to ensure Hamas fulfills its obligations under the ceasefire.
In response, Hamas criticized the continued attacks and Israel's advance beyond the yellow line as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, urging for U.S. intervention to halt alleged attempts by Israel to redefine territorial boundaries.
This latest escalation follows an earlier attack on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties and hostage situations. According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 69,500 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict, illustrating the dire humanitarian crisis amid escalating hostilities.
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