At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Hamas-run health ministry reports, marking one of the most lethal days since a ceasefire took effect five weeks prior.
The strikes included a tragic attack on a ministry of religious endowments in Gaza City that left ten people dead, according to local rescuers. Israel's military justified its actions by claiming they targeted 'Hamas terrorist sites' following a reported gunfire incident where militant forces opened fire near IDF operational areas in Khan Younis.
Hamas, however, disputed these claims, warning that renewed violence could threaten the fragile ceasefire established earlier. The recent attack coincides with a UN Security Council resolution endorsing a controversial peace plan aimed at mitigating the ongoing conflict and establishing a transitional governance body in the region.
Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza's Civil Defence agency, indicated the strikes occurred after a brief calm, with drones, artillery, and air attacks reported across multiple locations, including Gaza City and Khan Younis.
Notably, the strikes in Zeitoun caused considerable damage, evidenced by rescue operations that unearthed trapped individuals amid the rubble. Reports emerged of children among the casualties, exacerbating local outrage and calls for international intervention to enforce the ceasefire.
As tensions continue to escalate, the Israeli military reinforced its position, asserting it will not compromise until Hamas is fully disarmed, a demand that Hamas rejects, citing its cause as legitimate resistance against Israeli actions. The ongoing hostilities follow a broader context of an Israeli offensive initiated after a Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and led to the displacement of thousands.
