Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 individuals, following Israel’s claim that Hamas breached a ceasefire in the Palestinian region. The recent escalation tests a delicate agreement mediated earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Reports from local health authorities indicated casualties, including five individuals in a residence struck in the Bureij refugee camp, four in a building in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, and five in a vehicle in Khan Younis, including two children. Israeli airstrikes persisted into Wednesday, with witnesses also observing strikes in Gaza City.
According to an Israeli military official, the attacks were in response to Hamas violating the ceasefire by targeting Israeli forces in an area under Israeli jurisdiction. The official labeled this as a clear breach of the ceasefire terms.
Israel informed the United States before launching the airstrikes, as confirmed by two U.S. officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. Notably, an exchange of fire was reported between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in Rafah, but Hamas denied involvement in the attack. Hamas highlighted its compliance with the ceasefire conditions while accusing Israel of seeking excuses to evade its responsibilities.
The ceasefire, which saw the release of living hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian convicts and detainees, also required Israel to withdraw troops and halt military operations. Disagreements arose over the handover of deceased hostages’ remains, with Netanyahu accusing Hamas of deceptive practices regarding the recovery of bodies.
Efforts to locate and retrieve the remains of missing hostages have become a focal point within the ceasefire agreement. Israeli authorities claimed that Hamas staged the discovery of a missing hostage’s remains to manipulate perceptions. Hamas faced challenges in body recovery due to the destruction in Gaza and limited equipment, despite pledging continued efforts to resolve the issue promptly.
Israeli officials called for decisive actions against Hamas, subject to approval from Washington, which facilitated the ceasefire agreement. The search for hostage remains intensified with the aid of heavy machinery from Egypt, with excavations ongoing in various locations across Gaza. The process includes searching through rubble and underground tunnels to locate missing individuals.
Gaza health authorities reported a death toll of 68,000 from Israeli airstrikes, with numerous individuals still unaccounted for. Israeli forces remain active in demolishing areas with remaining deployments, particularly targeting Hamas tunnels that have not been dismantled.