Israel conducted airstrikes in various locations across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, resulting in the death of at least 11 individuals, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military stated that the airstrikes were in response to ceasefire breaches by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Gaza medics reported that an Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment hosting displaced families led to the deaths of at least four people. Additionally, health officials confirmed the fatalities of five individuals in Khan Younis in the south and one person in the northern region due to another airstrike. A targeted airstrike in Gaza City’s Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood was believed to have hit an Islamic Jihad group commander, Hamas’ ally.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem criticized Israel, labeling the incident as a new “massacre” against displaced Palestinians, deeming it a significant violation of the ceasefire just days before the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace.” The Israeli military defended its actions, describing the strikes as “precise” and compliant with international law, citing repeated violations of an October ceasefire agreement by the Palestinian group.
The Gaza Health Ministry disclosed that at least 600 Palestinians have lost their lives to Israeli actions since the initiation of the ceasefire deal. Conversely, Israel reported the deaths of four soldiers at the hands of militants in Gaza during the same period. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, a crucial component of Trump’s initiative to end the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities based on Israeli figures. Subsequently, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have claimed the lives of more than 72,000 individuals, as per data from the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Notably, the Israeli military justified its recent actions, indicating that strikes were executed in response to Hamas violating the ceasefire agreement by breaching the designated “yellow line” demarcating control boundaries. Israel accused Hamas of deliberately endangering Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel through ceasefire violations.
Furthermore, Hamas has been urged to adhere to the ceasefire terms, including disarming as outlined in the plan, failing which Israel has signaled its intent to enforce disarmament forcibly if necessary. Qassem called on participants in Trump’s international Board of Peace meeting to pressure Israel to uphold the ceasefire and implement the agreement promptly.
In a separate development, Gaza’s Nasser Hospital criticized Doctors Without Borders (MSF) for suspending most of its services due to security concerns arising from encounters with armed individuals within the hospital premises. The hospital clarified that civilian police had been deployed for enhanced security, refuting MSF’s claims of security breaches.
Nasser Hospital, a critical healthcare facility in Khan Younis, has been pivotal in treating numerous patients, including war casualties, and facilitating the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages under the current ceasefire pact. The hospital staff highlighted the necessity of an armed civilian police presence owing to recurrent attacks by armed groups in the region.
Despite Hamas maintaining control over areas outside Israeli jurisdiction, other armed factions have emerged in Gaza following the conflict, leading to security challenges within the territory.