Israeli airstrikes have intensified in Gaza, leading to significant casualties and damage. Reports confirm that at least 25 Palestinians were killed in various strikes across the region.
Recent Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza
On Wednesday evening, multiple air, drone, and artillery strikes hit Gaza City and Khan Younis after a period of relative calm. This escalation is linked to increasing tensions between Israel and Hamas.
Casualties and Damage
According to Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, various incidents resulted in severe destruction:
- In Zeitoun, a religious endowments ministry building sustained extensive damage.
- Rescuers reported locating two individuals trapped under rubble from this attack.
- Photos indicated the recovery of three young children’s bodies from a separate location.
- At the Shejaiya junction, a drone strike killed one person and wounded several others.
- A tank shell struck a house in Eastern Gaza City, resulting in an additional fatality.
- In Khan Younis, three fatalities occurred during an attack on a UN-run sports club.
Israeli Defense Forces’ Response
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes were a response to gunfire directed at their soldiers in Khan Younis. The IDF claimed this incident violated the ceasefire agreement. In addition, they targeted key Hamas military leaders in their offensive.
Context of Escalation
This wave of attacks follows a Hamas-led assault on Israel that began on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the kidnapping of 251 individuals. Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that around 69,500 Palestinians have died due to Israeli strikes, including several during the ceasefire period.
International Reactions
The UN Security Council recently passed a resolution aimed at stabilizing the ceasefire, effective since October 10. This resolution included the establishment of a transitional governance body and an International Stabilization Force to support demilitarization efforts in Gaza. Hamas has stated that it will not disarm without obtaining a Palestinian state, viewing its actions as legitimate resistance.
The ongoing violence highlights the critical situation in Gaza, as both local and international parties grapple with the ramifications of the conflict.
