Israeli Strikes Kill 30 Palestinians, Including Children, as Gaza Ceasefire Inches Forward
Hospitals in Gaza reported at least 30 Palestinian casualties Saturday, one of the highest tolls since a ceasefire aimed at ending the fighting was agreed upon in October. The deaths included two women and six children from different families.
A day after accusing Hamas of new violations, Israeli strikes hit multiple locations across Gaza, including an apartment building in Gaza City where at least 14 people were killed by airstrikes. In Khan Younis, a tent camp suffered a lethal airstrike that claimed the lives of seven individuals, including a father and his children.
In Gaza City, a police station was also targeted, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 others, including four women officers, civilians, and inmates held within. A strike on Jabaliya refugee camp’s eastern side resulted in one Palestinian death Saturday.
Palestinians see Rafah crossing as vital for tens of thousands needing medical care outside Gaza, where much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. The opening of Rafah marks the first major step toward a second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire and includes plans to demilitarize the territory after nearly two decades under Hamas rule and establish a new government overseeing reconstruction.
Saturday’s strikes underscore that despite the ceasefire agreement, Gaza’s death toll remains high as border crossings remain closed for almost the entirety of the conflict. As per Nasser Hospital’s report, a strike on a tent camp triggered a fire that killed seven people, including a father, his children, and grandchildren.
Shifa Hospital reported that an apartment building strike in Gaza City claimed the lives of three children, their aunt, and grandmother. Another airstrike on the police station killed at least 14 individuals, including four female officers, civilians, and inmates held there.
Hamas condemned Saturday’s strikes as a “renewed flagrant violation,” urging US mediators to persuade Israel to halt the attacks. A senior Hamas official stated that they perceive an “‘Board of War,’ not a ‘Board of Peace.’”
Israel’s military responded by stating its actions since October were responses to violations of the ceasefire agreement, alleging four Palestinians had been killed when entering Israeli-controlled areas near Rafah.
By Friday, the Gaza Health Ministry recorded at least 520 Palestinian deaths due to Israeli fire since the ceasefire began on October 10. The ministry’s casualty data is seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.