At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across northern and central Gaza, Hamas medical and civil defense officials have said.
They reported that five sites were hit, including residential homes. Among the deceased was a senior Hamas commander, according to local sources.
The Israeli military claimed the strikes were a response to an earlier incident during which, they allege, an armed terrorist had fired at soldiers after crossing into an area designated under full Israeli control—claims that Hamas has denied.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement enacted six weeks ago.
More than 310 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began, reported Gaza's health ministry.
The territory's civil defense indicated the strikes on Saturday targeted areas such as Gaza City in the north, as well as Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.
Witnesses reported that five fatalities occurred at Abbas junction in the densely populated Rimal area of Gaza City following an Israeli strike that set a car ablaze.
Another three individuals were killed near a mosque in Deir al-Balah, according to officials.
Additional strikes in Nuseirat targeted two houses, claiming the lives of three individuals from the Abu Amouneh family and seven from the Abu Shawish family.
After the attacks, an Israeli military statement referenced a violation of ceasefire conditions by Hamas, alleging that Hamas sent a terrorist to attack IDF soldiers. The statement also expressed a call for mediators to ensure Hamas respects the agreement.
Hamas, in response, accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire and warned that their actions were creating new facts on the ground that undermined the agreement.
The backdrop to these developments includes a significant escalation in the conflict, first triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages taken by Hamas.
Since then, over 69,500 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza due to Israeli military actions, including 280 deaths during the ceasefire period, illustrating the dire humanitarian situation.
