DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — On Saturday, Israel's military conducted airstrikes targeting Hamas militants in Gaza, which marked a significant incident during the ongoing ceasefire that began on October 10. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the deaths of five senior Hamas members. Health officials in Gaza reported at least 24 Palestinians killed and 54 injured, including several children, due to the strikes.
The military action coincided with a growing international focus on the situation in Gaza. On Monday, the U.N. Security Council approved a U.S. plan aimed at securing and governing the territory. The resolution allows for the establishment of an international stabilization force to ensure security and authorizes a transitional authority overseen by then-President Donald Trump. It proposes a potential pathway toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Israel has exercised similar military responses in the past following reported attacks on its forces during ceasefires. Over a 12-hour period on Wednesday and Thursday, at least 33 Palestinians were killed, predominantly women and children, according to health officials.
One of the airstrikes on Saturday targeted a vehicle in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, resulting in 11 fatalities and over 20 injuries. The majority of the wounded were identified as children, according to Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital. Associated Press footage captured children and residents examining the wreckage of the vehicle, which had been severely damaged.
Additionally, a strike on a house near Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza claimed the lives of at least three individuals and injured 11. Reports indicate that another airstrike on a residence in Nuseirat camp resulted in a death toll of at least seven, including one child, with 16 others wounded. In a separate attack on a home in Deir al-Balah, three people, including a woman, were killed.
Describing the chaos, Khalil Abu Hatab, a resident of Deir al-Balah, recounted the moment of the explosion: "Suddenly, I heard a powerful explosion. I looked outside and saw smoke covering the entire area. I couldn’t see a thing. I covered my ears and started shouting to the others in the tent to run." He further expressed his despair, stating, "It’s a fragile ceasefire. This is not a life we can live. There’s no safe place."
In a statement, Israel's military justified the airstrikes, claiming that they were responding to an incident where an “armed terrorist” crossed into an Israeli-controlled area and opened fire at troops in southern Gaza, asserting that no Israeli soldiers were injured. The military emphasized that the assailant had used a road designated for humanitarian aid entry, calling it an “extreme violation” of the ceasefire.
Separately, the military reported that its forces had killed five “terrorists” in the Rafah area, along with two others who were shot after approaching Israeli-held territories in northern Gaza during two distinct incidents. The ongoing conflict initially erupted following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of over 250 hostages. Nearly all hostages have reportedly been returned during various ceasefires or through negotiations.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, 69,733 Palestinians have reported fatalities since the onset of Israel's retaliatory military operations, with 170,863 others injured. The ministry's counts include both combatants and civilians, although it has indicated that women and children represent a significant portion of the deceased. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas government and is staffed with medical professionals, maintains comprehensive records that are generally regarded as reliable by independent analysts.
