At least 12 Palestinians were killed Sunday across the Gaza Strip in Israeli airstrikes, the Israeli military confirmed, stating the actions were in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas. The strikes targeted areas in Jabaliya, Khan Younis, Gaza City, and Beit Lahia, according to reports from the Gaza civil defence agency.
Five Palestinians were killed when an airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in the northern city of Jabaliya, the civil defence agency reported. Another five were killed and several injured in a separate strike in Khan Younis, in the south. One fatality occurred in Gaza City due to Israeli shelling, and another in Beit Lahia from Israeli gunfire, bringing the total confirmed Palestinian deaths to at least 12.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of a “massacre” against displaced Palestinians, characterizing the strikes as a serious breach of the US-brokered truce. The current phase of the truce began last month, but violence has persisted, with both Israel and Hamas trading accusations of violations.
Al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals confirmed receiving the bodies of at least seven individuals. Osama Abu Askar, who lost his nephew in the Jabaliya attack, told Agence France-Presse, “Israel doesn’t understand ceasefires or truces. We’ve been living under a truce for months and they’ve still targeted us… Israel operates on this principle – saying one thing and doing another.” Mourners gathered at Nasser hospital, where the bodies were laid out, and performed funeral prayers.
An Israeli military official stated that the airstrikes were a direct response to Hamas activity. The official alleged that armed militants took cover under debris east of the “yellow line” – a demarcation line established as part of the ceasefire agreement – and emerged from underground infrastructure. “Crossing the yellow line in the vicinity of IDF troops, while armed, is an explicit ceasefire violation,” the official said.
The official also noted that Israel has unilaterally moved the yellow line deeper into Gaza, despite provisions for Israeli withdrawal within the ceasefire deal. Hamas has rejected demands to disarm, a key component of the proposed plan, and Israel has stated it will consider forceful disarmament if Hamas does not comply.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 601 people have been killed since the truce began. The Israeli military reports at least four soldier fatalities during the same period. Jabaliya has been a focal point of conflict, with the IDF having engaged in operations there from October 2024 to January 2025, according to reports. Approximately 20,000 residents have reportedly left Jabaliya, and 150 individuals have been detained by Israeli forces in recent operations.
The first meeting of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is scheduled to take place in the coming days, adding a layer of diplomatic complexity to the ongoing situation. The US-brokered truce remains in effect, but the future of the agreement is uncertain given the continued violence and accusations from both sides.
