In brief
Israeli airstrikes across northern and central Gaza have killed at least 22 Palestinians, including a senior Hamas commander, according to medical officials. The strikes, which targeted residential areas, were described as retaliation for an earlier attack on Israeli soldiers. Both Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations over violations of a ceasefire agreement that was in place for six weeks. Since the ceasefire, more than 310 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives in ongoing Israeli strikes.
At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across northern and central Gaza, Hamas medical and civil defence officials have said.
They said five sites had been hit, including residential homes. A senior Hamas commander was among the dead, according to local sources.
The Israeli military stated it had targeted locations in Gaza in response to an incident earlier on Saturday, where they claimed an 'armed terrorist' had fired at soldiers after crossing the Strip's so-called 'yellow line', which designates areas under full Israeli control. Hamas denied this claim.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire deal agreed upon six weeks ago.
According to Gaza's health ministry, more than 310 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began. The recent strikes targeted Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and the Nuseirat camp.
Hamas officials reported that five individuals were killed at the Abbas junction in the densely populated Rimal area of Gaza City. Additional casualties were confirmed near a mosque in Deir al-Balah and various homes in Nuseirat.
In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office claimed that Hamas had again violated the ceasefire, sending a terrorist into Israeli territory to attack IDF soldiers. They asserted that in response, they eliminated several senior Hamas terrorists.
Hamas claimed the Israeli military's actions represented a blatant breach of the ceasefire, calling on mediators and the US to intervene urgently.
The Israeli military commenced its offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 others taken hostage.
Since that time, over 69,500 people have lost their lives in Israeli attacks in Gaza, including around 280 during the ceasefire.
