GAZA: On Wednesday, Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes resulted in the death of 23 Palestinians, including seven children, health officials reported. Among the casualties was a medic who had rushed to assist victims in Khan Younis before being struck by another attack. Other strikes hit Gaza City, where a five-month-old boy perished.
The attacks occurred days after Israel reopened Gaza’s main border crossing with Egypt as part of the October ceasefire supported by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan. “We were sleeping when they shelled us and our children died,” said Abu Mohamed Habouch at his family’s funeral. Tents in Mawasi, near Khan Younis, were destroyed by the strikes, displacing many of Gaza’s over two million residents.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes were in retaliation for militants firing on Israeli troops near the armistice line. One strike targeted a senior Hamas commander; an Israeli soldier was severely injured as a result. Hamas condemned these attacks, asserting they undermined the ceasefire and called for “immediate international pressure to halt violations.”
Since the October ceasefire began, Israeli fire has killed nearly 560 Palestinians, primarily civilians. In response, Palestinian militants have killed four Israeli soldiers. On Saturday, more than 30 Palestinians were killed after gunmen emerged from a tunnel in an area under Israeli control.
The October ceasefire, part of U.S.-backed plans to stabilize the region, also included reopening Gaza’s main border crossing with Egypt. Since its inception, the fragile truce has faced continued violence and unresolved issues such as Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas and Hamas disarmament.