Deadly Airstrikes Rock Gaza as Fragile Ceasefire Shows Signs of Collapse
Fresh Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 30 Palestinians on Saturday, marking one of the bloodiest days since the ceasefire that began in October was meant to halt months of intense fighting.
Hospital officials said the bombardment struck multiple locations, including a residential building in Gaza City and a tent camp sheltering displaced families in Khan Younis.
Among the victims were women, children, and entire families caught in the attacks.
Doctors at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed that an airstrike on an apartment block killed several members of one family, including three children, their grandmother, and an aunt.
The same hospital also reported that an Israeli strike hit a police station in Gaza City, killing at least 14 people — including police officers, civilians, and detainees.
In southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital said a strike on a tent camp sparked a massive fire, killing seven people — a father, his three children, and three grandchildren.
Another man was reported killed in an attack in the eastern part of Jabaliya refugee camp.
Strikes Come as Rafah Crossing Set to Reopen
The deadly escalation came just one day before the planned reopening of the Rafah Border Crossing, Gaza’s only gateway to Egypt and a critical route for medical evacuations.
For most of the war, all border crossings have remained shut, cutting off civilians from life-saving treatment abroad as much of Gaza’s healthcare system has been reduced to ruins.
The limited reopening of Rafah is expected to be the first significant step in the second phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire process.
This next stage includes complex negotiations over border access, Gaza’s future governance, reconstruction efforts, and the possible demilitarisation of the territory after nearly two decades under Hamas rule.
Ceasefire Under Strain
Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Saturday’s bloodshed highlighted how fragile the truce remains.
Hamas condemned the strikes as a “blatant and renewed violation” of the ceasefire and called on the United States and other mediators to pressure Israel to halt military operations.
Israel’s military, however, defended the attacks, claiming they were retaliatory actions following ceasefire breaches.
In a statement, it said the latest strikes came after Israeli forces killed several militants who allegedly emerged from a tunnel in an Israeli-controlled area of Rafah the day before.
Rising Death Toll Despite Truce
The casualties reported on Saturday were far higher than the daily average since the ceasefire took effect on October 10.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 520 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began — even as negotiations for a longer-term calm continued.
The ministry, which operates under Gaza’s Hamas-led administration, maintains detailed casualty records that have generally been regarded as credible by United Nations agencies and independent researchers.
A Grim Reminder
While border talks inch forward and humanitarian access is slowly discussed, the latest strikes underscore a harsh reality: violence in Gaza has not truly stopped.
Families continue to lose loved ones, hospitals remain overwhelmed, and hopes of lasting peace remain uncertain as each new escalation threatens to unravel fragile agreements.
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