At least 25 Palestinians lost their lives in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in a region of Gaza controlled by Hamas since a ceasefire began in October, according to the local Health Ministry. Medics reported that 10 individuals were killed in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, two in the Shejaia suburb to the east, and the remaining casualties in separate attacks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military responded by targeting Hamas sites across Gaza after members of the Palestinian militant group fired at Israeli troops in violation of the ceasefire. Hamas criticized the airstrikes as a dangerous escalation and called on the U.S. to pressure Israel to abide by the ceasefire.
An anonymous U.S. official stated that Hamas was attempting to disrupt the ceasefire and not fulfill its commitment to demilitarize, predicting that such tactics would be unsuccessful.
Witnesses and medics revealed that the attacks exceeded the agreed-upon boundaries, targeting a building owned by Muslim religious authorities in Zeitoun and a United Nations-operated facility in Khan Younis that housed displaced families.
Despite the ceasefire in the two-year conflict in Gaza, violence continues intermittently. Palestinian health authorities reported that Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of 305 people in Gaza since the truce, with three Israeli soldiers also losing their lives.
In a separate development, a Gaza company operating water desalination plants serving a significant portion of the enclave’s population resumed operations after a staff member detained by Hamas-led security forces was released following a brief period of detention.
The company expressed regret for the misunderstanding that led to the employee’s detention and affirmed respect for the Hamas-led government in Gaza. The Hamas government declined to comment on the incident.
Most of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged, and the company’s services are crucial in providing clean water to the population. The company operates several desalination plants and water-carrying trucks across Gaza.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the region in rebuilding and ensuring essential services for its residents.
