Renewed Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have killed at least 50 people, including 22 children, and injured more than 200 others, according to Gazan civil defense officials, even as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was purportedly in effect.
The overnight bombardments targeted tents for displaced persons, residential homes, and areas near hospitals, escalating a humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency, described the situation as “catastrophic and terrifying.” He called the Israeli strikes a “clear and blatant violation of the ceasefire.”
One strike reportedly hit the area behind Al-Shifa Hospital, while Al-Awda Hospital received bodies, including four children, killed in bombing at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Israel resumed its air operations on Tuesday, accusing Hamas of attacking an Israeli soldier and breaching the ceasefire.
Hamas, however, denied any involvement in a “shooting incident in Rafah” and reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S.-mediated truce.
The Israeli military announced that soldier Yona Efraim Feldbaum, 37, was killed the previous day “during combat in southern Gaza.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire, defended Israel’s actions, stating that Israel “should retaliate.”
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said, “They killed an Israeli soldier, so Israel retaliated, and they deserved to retaliate.”
Despite this, Trump insisted that “nothing” would jeopardize the ceasefire agreement. Vice President J.D. Vance also stated that the truce remained in place, despite what he called “minor skirmishes.”
Further complicating the fragile ceasefire, Hamas announced it would postpone the scheduled delivery of another hostage body. The group cited “Israel’s increased violence” as hindering efforts to locate, excavate, and recover bodies.
The issue of remaining hostage bodies continues to threaten the ceasefire, with Israel accusing Hamas of failing to uphold its commitments. Hamas maintains it requires more time to find bodies buried beneath Gaza’s extensive rubble.