As many as 33 Palestinians, including children, have been killed and 77 others injured after a series of Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The Israeli side claimed that attacks were carried out after Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement, though the claims have not been substantiated with evidence by the IDF. The Israeli military officials said that the forces carried out aerial strikes across Gaza, adding that the strikes were in response to gunfire targeting its soldiers in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The local eyewitnesses said that both Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis came under attack, where hundreds of thousands of people are living in makeshift shelters. According to UNRWA, Palestinians in Gaza are already struggling with the ongoing harsh winter conditions and persistent rainfall, which has dampened the surroundings, turning the refugee shelters into a total mess.
The Israeli forces are continuing their assaults on the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire, which came into effect on October 10 last month. Gaza's health authorities earlier said the death toll in the enclave had risen to 280 since the ceasefire.
In a statement, Hamas denounced the latest Israeli attacks as a “dangerous provocation”. The group added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "seeks to resume the genocide" against the Palestinian people.
Also Read: Gen-Z protest erupts in Mexico; hundreds injured dozens detained
Hamas rejected Israel's claims about the gunfire and called on the United States and mediators, including Qatar, to make Israel comply with the ceasefire. Netanyahu is playing with fire amidst the allegations of his being involved in a corruption scandal while facing pressure from the right-wing Zionist leaders like Ben Gvir to resume operations in Gaza.
However, Netanyahu is under pressure from both sides; on one side, US President Donald Trump has said the ceasefire and rebuilding of Gaza will start soon.
On the other hand, corruption allegations and right-wing pressure are pushing him to resume the war in Gaza. Experts have pointed out that the Israeli Prime Minister is quite literally seeking an excuse to push for another onslaught inside Gaza.
Also Read: UNSC to vote on Gaza peace proposal on Monday
Follow us
