By: The Trek News Desk
More than 100 Palestinians were killed in a series of intense Israeli airstrikes on Gaza late Tuesday night, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency and local hospitals. Among the dead were nearly 35 children.
Israel said the strikes were carried out in response to what it described as Hamas’s violations of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Hamas Accused of Killing Israeli Soldier
Israel’s defence minister accused Hamas of killing an Israeli soldier during an attack in Gaza, calling it a “crossing of a red line.” The slain soldier was identified as Master Sergeant Yona Efraim Feldbaum, who was reportedly killed while working to dismantle a tunnel system in Rafah.
Hamas, however, denied any involvement in the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire terms.
Destruction and Rescue Efforts in Gaza
Airstrikes hit multiple areas across Gaza City, Beit Lahia, Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis, targeting residential neighbourhoods and schools. Witnesses described seeing “massive columns of fire and smoke” rising above the city as explosions echoed across the streets.
Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said rescue teams were still searching for survivors trapped under the rubble while hospitals struggled to cope with a flood of casualties and severe shortages of medical supplies and fuel.
Civilian Casualties and Targeted Areas
- Four members of the al-Banna family were pulled from the rubble in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood.
- Five members of the Abu Sharar family were killed in their home in the Bureij refugee camp.
- Another five people died when a vehicle was hit northwest of Khan Younis.
Israel’s Response
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it carried out strikes on “dozens of terror targets and operatives” and had begun “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to launch “a strong response,” while Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that “Hamas will pay dearly” for violating the agreement.
U.S. Reaction
U.S. President Donald Trump maintained that “the ceasefire will remain intact at any cost,” but also remarked that “when Israeli soldiers are attacked, Israel has the right to strike back.”
Trump described Hamas as “a small part of the Middle East peace process” and urged restraint from all sides.
Dispute Over Hostage Remains
Tensions escalated earlier this week when Hamas handed over a body that, according to Israel, did not belong to any of the 13 deceased hostages listed in the ceasefire deal.
Israel called it “a breach of the agreement” and accused Hamas of staging a “fake recovery” operation involving the remains.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed it had assisted in the process at Hamas’s request, saying its team “acted in good faith” and was unaware the recovery scene had been staged in advance.
Background on the Ceasefire Agreement
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, is part of the first phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan. Under the terms, Hamas was to return 48 living and deceased Israeli hostages within 72 hours of the truce’s start.
By October 13, all 20 living hostages had been released, and the bodies of 13 deceased hostages were exchanged. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 68,500 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.
The renewed violence underscores the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire. Both Israel and Hamas continue to trade accusations of violating the agreement, while civilians remain trapped in the crossfire, paying the highest price in a war that shows no signs of truly ending.
Source: News Agencies
