Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed 33 people and wounded many others, medical officials reported, marking one of the most severe escalations since a U.S.-backed ceasefire took effect last month.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, officials said they received 17 bodies, including five women and five children, after four Israeli strikes hit tents housing displaced people. In Gaza City, medical sources reported two airstrikes killed 16 individuals, among them seven children and three women.
Israel stated it carried out the attacks after its soldiers were fired upon in Khan Younis on Wednesday, though no Israeli casualties were reported. Hamas denounced the strikes as a “shocking massacre” and denied targeting Israeli troops.
Palestinians in Gaza expressed feeling as though the two-year war had never truly ended. Officials in the territory report over 300 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began.
“My daughter kept asking me all night, ‘Will the war come back?’ Every time we try to regain hope, the shelling starts again. When will this nightmare end?” said Lina Kuraz, 33, from the Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City, in an interview with Agence France-Presse.
Mohammed Hamdouna, 36, displaced from northern Gaza to a tent in al-Mawasi, said the war continues. “The number of deaths has decreased, but there are still casualties and shelling every day. We remain in tents, our cities are in ruins, crossings are closed, and basic necessities are still lacking,” he explained.
Hospital officials confirmed Israeli airstrikes on camps in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, killed 17 people on Wednesday.
Qatar, a key mediator during the conflict, condemned the “brutal” Israeli airstrikes, calling them a dangerous escalation that threatens the ceasefire agreement.
On Monday, the UN Security Council endorsed Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, which includes deploying an international stabilization force and a potential path to a sovereign Palestinian state.
However, significant challenges persist. It remains unclear how Hamas will be persuaded to disarm, who will contribute troops to the peacekeeping force, and how full aid will reach Gaza without Israel lifting current restrictions on humanitarian supplies.
Hamas still holds the remains of three hostages, and Israeli forces control over half of Gaza despite withdrawing from some positions at the time of the ceasefire. The territory is now divided by a “yellow line.”
Gaza’s health ministry has recorded more than 300 deaths since the ceasefire began, averaging over seven per day. Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement’s terms, which include increasing aid flow into Gaza and returning hostages, dead or alive, to Israel.
The two-year war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 in a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023. More than 69,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, have been killed in the subsequent Israeli offensive and strikes since the ceasefire, with thousands more bodies believed buried under rubble.
The recent violence in Gaza coincided with a series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. A day earlier, an Israeli airstrike killed 13 people in the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, the deadliest attack on Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict a year ago.
Reporting contributed by Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the recent escalation designed to be clear and informative for a general audience
Basic Understanding The Current Situation
1 What is the latest news about Gaza and Israel
After a period of ceasefire Israeli airstrikes have resumed in Gaza Recent reports indicate that these airstrikes have killed at least 33 people marking a significant escalation in the conflict
2 Why did the airstrikes start again after a ceasefire
Governments and militaries often state that airstrikes are in response to specific threats or attacks In this case Israeli officials have stated the operation was targeting militant infrastructure and operatives which they argue necessitated a military response thus ending the ceasefire
3 Who are the people being killed in these airstrikes
Casualties often include a mix of individuals While the stated targets are frequently militant fighters airstrikes in densely populated areas like Gaza also result in the deaths of civilians including women and children The exact number of combatants versus civilians among the 33 killed is often a point of contention and investigation
4 What is a ceasefire and what does it mean when it ends
A ceasefire is a temporary halt in fighting agreed upon by warring parties When it ends or collapses it means the agreement has broken down and active military operations like airstrikes and rocket fire have resumed
Deeper Context Causes
5 What is the root cause of the conflict between Israel and Gaza
The conflict is deeply rooted in a longstanding dispute over land sovereignty and security It involves competing national narratives between Israelis and Palestinians Specifically Gaza is governed by Hamas a group designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and others which does not recognize Israels right to exist Israel imposes a blockade on Gaza citing security concerns which severely restricts the movement of people and goods
6 What is Hamas and what is its role
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political and military organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 It is a major antagonist in the conflict with Israel frequently firing rockets into Israeli territory Israel the United States and the European Union designate it as a terrorist organization
7 Why does Israel use airstrikes instead of other methods
From a military perspective
