Gaza city – Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 21 Palestinians and left dozens injured, according to the Gaza Civil Defense Agency, marking a significant escalation in violence and a potential breach of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
The strikes, carried out Saturday, targeted multiple locations including Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip and the Al-nasr district west of Gaza City.Seven people were killed and over 16 injured in a strike on a home in Nuseirat, while an attack on a residential apartment in Al-Nasr claimed the lives of four and wounded several others. This renewed conflict casts doubt on the stability of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire,which began on October 10th after two years of hostilities,and threatens to further destabilize the region,hindering humanitarian efforts and prolonging the suffering of Gazan civilians.
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Hamas-affiliated civil defense agency, stated the strikes “clearly violated the ceasefire in Gaza.” The Israeli military responded to reports of a militant crossing into the Gaza Strip and opening fire on Israeli soldiers, claiming they subsequently “started striking terror targets in the Gaza Strip.” The incident occurred near the “yellow Line,” a demarcation where Israeli troops have withdrawn.
Both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire, raising concerns about a potential return to full-scale conflict. The strikes come as humanitarian aid deliveries attempt to reach the region, and the Israeli military stated the initial incident occurred on a route used for that purpose.