Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Result in 25 Palestinian Deaths Amid Ceasefire Tensions

At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted "Hamas terrorist targets" after gunmen allegedly opened fire on Israeli soldiers in Khan Younis, violating the five-week-old ceasefire agreement.

In Gaza City, ten people, including a woman and a young girl, were killed when a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood was hit. Additional casualties were reported in the Shujaiya suburb and Khan Younis. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence agency, noted that the attacks marked a sharp escalation after several days of relative calm.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that "several terrorists opened fire toward the area where IDF soldiers are operating in Khan Younis," constituting a violation of the ceasefire. In response, the IDF began striking Hamas targets across Gaza.

The recent violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations. The United Nations Security Council recently passed a resolution aiming to support the ceasefire and establish a transitional governance body and an International Stabilisation Force to oversee the demilitarization of Gaza.

The Israeli military launched an offensive in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Since then, at least 69,500 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, including 280 during the ceasefire, according to the territory's health ministry.