Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the death of 26 individuals following accusations by Israel against Hamas for breaching a ceasefire in the Palestinian region. The casualties included 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. The attacks persisted into the following day, with reports of strikes in Gaza City as well.
The reason for the airstrikes was not explicitly stated by Netanyahu’s office, but an Israeli military official mentioned that Hamas had violated the ceasefire by targeting Israeli forces in an area under Israeli jurisdiction. The United States was notified prior to the airstrikes according to two U.S. officials.
Hamas initially promised to hand over the body of a missing hostage found in a tunnel in Gaza to Israel but later postponed the handover, citing Israeli actions that breached the ceasefire terms. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, which involved the release of living hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian convicts and detainees by Israel, alongside the recovery of deceased hostages’ remains.
The dispute over the transfer of human remains escalated tensions, with Netanyahu alleging that Hamas had deceitfully planted remains to fabricate efforts to locate bodies. The search for remaining bodies has been challenging due to the destruction in Gaza. Israeli officials called for a robust response against Hamas, pending approval from Washington, which mediated the ceasefire.
Efforts to locate bodies intensified with the arrival of heavy machinery from Egypt, aiding in the search across Gaza. Rescuers are scouring rubble for the bodies of Palestinians still missing after years of conflict. The situation remains tense as Israeli forces continue demolitions in Gaza, focusing on dismantling Hamas tunnels still operational.