At least 27 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted residential areas in Gaza, according to local health officials. The attack has further escalated tensions between Israel and Hamas, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
IDF Says It Was a Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the airstrike was carried out on Hamas targets after “several terrorists” fired on Israeli soldiers in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The IDF described the attack as a response to threats against its troops, but added that none of its forces were injured. The IDF also claimed that the strikes were in line with counterterror operations, although the Gaza side sees it as a breach of the ceasefire.
Hamas strongly rejected Israel’s explanation, calling the attack a “dangerous escalation”. The group accused Israel of trying to justify its ongoing crimes and violations against Palestinians. Hamas has appealed to the United States to take immediate action to pressure Israel into respecting the ceasefire and stopping attacks against civilians in Gaza.
Ceasefire Shows Strain
This airstrike marks the third major escalation since the fragile ceasefire agreement came into effect in October. Previous flare-ups on October 19 and 28 resulted in the deaths of roughly 150 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers. Despite these violent incidents, the ceasefire had mostly held, though the latest strikes threaten its stability.
High Civilian Casualties
Among the dead in Wednesday’s attack were nine children, while at least 77 others were injured, according to Gaza health officials. The Zaytun area in eastern Gaza experienced the deadliest strike, where 10 people, including a woman and a child, were killed. Another airstrike targeted a group of civilians inside the UNRWA club west of Khan Younis. UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, supports Palestinian refugees in the region.
In a separate development, Israel conducted airstrikes on locations it claimed were Hezbollah weapons storage sites in southern Lebanon. This action raised concerns about the possibility of the conflict spreading beyond Gaza, increasing tensions across the region.
Background: Ongoing Conflict Since October 2023
The current hostilities began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Since then, according to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 69,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died.
The repeated escalation of attacks highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. International observers continue to call for restraint from both sides and stress the need for renewed peace talks to prevent further loss of life.
