Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, as confirmed by Palestinian authorities. The Israeli military justified the strikes as a response to alleged ceasefire breaches by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.
Reports from Gaza medics indicated that an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp housing displaced families led to the deaths of at least four people. Additionally, health officials noted that another strike in Khan Younis claimed the lives of five individuals in the southern region, while one person was reportedly shot dead in the northern area. Furthermore, airstrikes targeted a suspected commander of the Islamic Jihad group, a Hamas ally, in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of perpetrating a fresh “massacre” against displaced Palestinians, labeling it a severe violation of the ceasefire ahead of the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace.” In contrast, an Israeli military official defended the airstrikes as “precise” and compliant with international law, citing repeated violations of the October ceasefire agreement by the Palestinian group.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 600 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli actions since the commencement of the ceasefire pact, while Israel reports the deaths of four soldiers at the hands of Gaza militants during the same period. Both sides have traded accusations regarding ceasefire breaches, which are pivotal to Trump’s efforts to end the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted when the latter attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 casualties based on Israeli estimates. 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.
The Israeli military responded to Hamas’s alleged violation of the ceasefire by targeting militants who emerged from a tunnel on the Israeli side of the agreed-upon “yellow line” demarcating control areas. Israel’s unilateral adjustment of the yellow line deeper into Gaza, contrary to the ceasefire terms, further strained the situation. Hamas continues to resist demands to disarm, prompting Israel to consider forced disarmament measures if necessary.
As preparations for Trump’s “Board of Peace” meeting progress, there are plans to unveil a multibillion-dollar Gaza reconstruction initiative and introduce a United Nations-sanctioned stabilization force for the Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, the Israeli military remains engaged in destroying underground tunnels in northern Gaza, in alignment with the ceasefire agreement.
In a separate development, Nasser Hospital in Gaza criticized Doctors Without Borders (MSF) for suspending non-critical medical services due to security concerns. MSF cited escalating security threats to its staff and patients, exacerbated by armed individuals within the hospital premises following the October ceasefire brokered by the U.S. Nasser Hospital, a vital healthcare facility in Khan Younis, emphasized the necessity of its civilian police presence for safeguarding patients and staff amidst increasing security risks.
Hamas’s stronghold in Gaza persists, with Nasser Hospital facing repeated attacks by armed groups, necessitating the presence of armed civilian police for protection. The hospital’s role in treating patients, including war casualties and former Palestinian prisoners released under the ceasefire agreement, underscores the importance of maintaining security amid the region’s volatile conditions.