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Israeli military strikes Gaza in response to alleged ceasefire violations, killing at least 30 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The violence threatens to complicate the next phase of a fragile U.S.-brokered peace agreement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched multiple airstrikes across Gaza on Saturday, claiming the operation targeted terrorists who had emerged from underground infrastructure in eastern Rafah. According to Israeli military officials, the strikes were a direct response to what they described as Hamas violations of the October ceasefire agreement.
“Four commanders and additional terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were struck, as well as a weapons storage facility,” the IDF stated in its operational update. The military also reported hitting weapons manufacturing sites and two launch sites belonging to Hamas in central Gaza.
Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry reported that at least 30 Palestinians were killed in the strikes. Hospital officials stated that the casualties included civilians, specifically mentioning two women and six children from two different families. An additional strike targeting a police station in Gaza City killed at least 14 people and wounded others, according to Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiya.
The renewed hostilities come at a particularly sensitive moment, just one day before the scheduled reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. This reopening represents a crucial component of the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan, which includes limited border accessibility, efforts to demilitarize Gaza, and discussions about postwar governance arrangements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had previously announced Israel’s agreement to a “limited reopening” of the crossing under President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. However, Israeli officials have consistently expressed concerns that the Rafah crossing could serve as an entry point for weapons smuggling by Hamas.
The violence extends beyond Gaza. On Friday, the IDF reported strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure and engineering vehicles in southern Lebanon, accusing the group of attempting to rebuild terrorist infrastructure in violation of agreements with Israel.
In a notable development, a senior Israeli military official acknowledged that the IDF largely accepts the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry’s overall death toll from the war. The military estimates approximately 70,000 Gazans were killed during the two-plus-year conflict that began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry currently reports 71,667 deaths, with more than 450 fatalities occurring since the October 2025 ceasefire was implemented.
“The Gaza Health Ministry has reported 509 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began on October 10,” according to Palestinian health officials.
The ongoing strikes highlight the fragility of the ceasefire agreement despite recent progress. Just days ago, Israel recovered the remains of its last hostage from Gaza, and subsequently returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians on Thursday. This exchange marked the completion of the hostage-detainee transfers stipulated under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Regional analysts suggest that these continued military operations and ceasefire violations threaten to undermine the progress made in recent negotiations. The situation remains highly volatile as both sides accuse each other of failing to uphold ceasefire commitments, even as diplomatic efforts continue to establish a more permanent resolution to the conflict.
The immediate future of the peace process may hinge on whether the scheduled reopening of the Rafah crossing proceeds as planned, and if both sides can maintain sufficient restraint to allow the next phase of the agreement to take effect.
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6 Comments
The continued conflict in Gaza is deeply concerning. I encourage the parties to prioritize protecting human life and finding a peaceful resolution through dialogue and compromise.
The loss of civilian life is always tragic. I hope the parties can quickly de-escalate the situation and return to the negotiating table to find a path forward that protects innocent people.
Agreed, the cycle of violence must be broken. Diplomacy is the only way to achieve a lasting peace in the region.
This is a concerning development, as any violation of the ceasefire agreement risks escalating the conflict in the region. Both sides need to exercise restraint and focus on a diplomatic solution.
This is a complex situation with valid concerns on both sides. I hope the international community can help facilitate a return to the ceasefire and a resumption of good-faith negotiations.
While the IDF claims it targeted terrorists, the high civilian casualty count is troubling. All sides should work to minimize harm to civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.