Fresh Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 20 Amid Mounting Ceasefire Tensions

Fresh Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 20 Amid Mounting Ceasefire Tensions
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Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 20 Palestinians and injured more than 80 on Saturday, escalating pressure on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to Reuters. Local health officials said the first strike targeted a car in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, igniting it and killing five people. Witnesses said residents rushed to extinguish the flames and assist the wounded.

Additional strikes soon followed, hitting two homes in Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, killing at least 10 people, medics reported. Later in the day, another strike on a house in western Gaza City left five more dead. The Israeli military said the attacks were a response to what it described as a gunman crossing into Israeli-controlled territory and using a humanitarian route in violation of the ceasefire.

A Hamas official dismissed the Israeli account as unfounded and said the group remains committed to the truce, in place since October 10. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreement. Hamas urged mediators and the United States to address what it called Israel’s “escalating violations,” while the Israeli government pressed for the return of remaining deceased hostages and progress toward Hamas’s disarmament.

The ceasefire has reduced fighting, allowing displaced Palestinians to return and increasing humanitarian aid deliveries, but violence persists. Gaza’s health authorities say 316 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce began, while Israel reports three soldiers killed and continued operations against militants. The broader conflict, which began in October 2023, has left tens of thousands dead and continues to shape regional dynamics.