Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed at least 24 people, mostly children, and injured dozens in Gaza, severely undermining a recent ceasefire and a newly approved U.S.-led international peace plan for the besieged territory.
The latest violence follows the United Nations Security Council’s approval of a U.S. proposal for Gaza’s future administration and security. That plan includes establishing an international stabilization force and a temporary administrative unit overseen by President Donald Trump, with a pathway towards a future Palestinian state.
Israel’s military stated the strikes were retaliation for “armed terrorists” crossing into Israeli-controlled territory and firing on soldiers in southern Gaza. It described the incursion as a serious violation of the ceasefire, which began on October 10.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that five senior members of the Hamas group were killed in the operations.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 24 fatalities and 54 injuries from the Saturday attacks, noting that a significant number of the wounded were children.
One strike targeted a car in the Rimal district of Gaza City, killing 11 people and injuring over 20. Shifa Hospital confirmed that most of the injured from this incident were children.
Additional attacks hit homes near Al-Awda Hospital, the Nuseirat refugee camp, and the Deir al-Balah area, resulting in at least 13 more deaths.
These recent events follow earlier violence on Wednesday and Thursday, when at least 33 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, were killed within a 12-hour period.
The conflict originated with a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to over 250 people being taken hostage. Most of these hostages have since been released or their bodies recovered through ceasefire agreements and exchanges.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the cumulative death toll from Israeli counter-operations has reached 69,733, with 170,863 injured. These figures, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, continue to rise even during ceasefire periods due to new attacks and the recovery of previously unaccounted-for bodies. The ministry, operating under the Hamas government, asserts that most casualties are women and children, and its data is closely monitored and considered internationally credible.