A fresh wave of violence has gripped the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 32 Palestinians dead and threatening to unravel the ceasefire agreement that has held largely steady since October.
The escalation began on Wednesday and continued into early Thursday morning, following an exchange of fire in southern Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the strikes killed 32 people, including 12 children and eight women, and left another 88 wounded.
The flare-up centers on disputed events in Khan Younis. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that its aircraft targeted Hamas positions after “several terrorists” opened fire on Israeli troops operating in the area. The military described the initial gunfire as a direct violation of the ceasefire terms, noting that no Israeli soldiers were injured in the exchange.
“This action constitutes a violation of the ceasefire agreement,” the IDF said in a statement released Thursday.
Hamas officials rejected the Israeli account, denying that its fighters had engaged Israeli forces. The group condemned the subsequent airstrikes as a “dangerous escalation” and accused Israel of fabricating the incident to “justify its ongoing crimes and violations.”
In a statement, Hamas called on the United States to intervene, urging “immediate, serious pressure” on Israel to halt operations and respect the terms of the truce.
This latest bout of violence brings the Palestinian death toll since the ceasefire began to 312. It marks the third significant breach of the agreement, with each major incident reportedly triggered by attacks on Israeli military personnel.
The renewal of hostilities complicates diplomatic efforts just days after the UN Security Council formally endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. The proposal, aimed at transitioning from the current fragile truce to a sustainable long-term peace, focuses on the reconstruction of the enclave and the establishment of new security protocols.
Compounding regional tensions, the IDF confirmed a separate series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The military said these strikes targeted Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, signaling that the conflict’s scope remains volatile on multiple fronts.
As of Thursday evening, international mediators were scrambling to prevent the situation from spiraling into a wider conflict.
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