At least 32 people, including women and children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Saturday, according to the territory’s civil defence authority. The military described the strikes as a response to what it called a violation of the ceasefire by Hamas.
Despite a US-mediated truce entering its second phase earlier this month, violence has continued, with both sides accusing each other of breaching the agreement.
The civil defence agency reported that residential buildings, shelters, and a police station were among the sites hit. A unit in Gaza City’s Rimal neighbourhood was completely destroyed, leaving blood on the streets. Relatives recounted the deaths of three young girls in their sleep.
A separate strike targeted a police station in Sheikh Radwan, killing seven people, including four female officers, officials said. Another attack hit Al-Mawasi, a densely populated area housing thousands of displaced residents in tents and temporary shelters, though casualty figures from that strike are still unclear.
Israel stated the airstrikes were retaliation for an incident in Rafah on Friday, where eight Palestinian fighters allegedly exited a tunnel, violating the fragile ceasefire. The military said it targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders across Gaza, while Hamas officials called the attacks a “crime” and rejected Israel’s claims.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed more than 500 Palestinians, while four Israeli soldiers have been killed in suspected militant attacks.
The violence comes ahead of the planned reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Sunday, intended to allow limited civilian movement as part of the ceasefire’s second phase. Egypt and Qatar have condemned Israel for repeated ceasefire violations, warning that the escalation risks undermining regional efforts to maintain peace.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has left tens of thousands dead and flattened much of Gaza, which has faced years of blockade and repeated conflicts.
