At least 12 Palestinians were killed and several others injured on Sunday following Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, according to local civil defense authorities, as Israel Defense Forces stated the attacks were carried out in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas.
Airstrikes Hit Displacement Sites and Urban Areas
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that five people were killed and several injured after an airstrike struck a tent sheltering displaced civilians in Jabaliya, located in northern Gaza.
Another five fatalities were recorded in a separate early morning strike in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. Meanwhile, one person was killed in Gaza City following Israeli shelling, and another died from Israeli gunfire in Beit Lahia.
Hospitals, including Al-Shifa Hospital and Nasser Hospital, confirmed receiving the bodies of at least seven victims.
Hamas Accuses Israel of Ceasefire Violations
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of committing a “new massacre against displaced Palestinians,” describing the strikes as a serious breach of the ceasefire agreement.
The violence occurred days before the anticipated meeting of a peace board linked to Donald Trump, who has called on Hamas to advance disarmament under his proposed post-war Gaza reconstruction plan. According to The Guardian, members of the proposed peace initiative have pledged $5 billion for rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure.
Ongoing Violence Despite Ceasefire Agreement
Despite a ceasefire mediated by the United States that entered its second phase last month, hostilities between Israel and Hamas have continued, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, which reportedly took effect on October 10, Israeli forces were required to withdraw behind a designated “yellow line,” although they remain in control of more than half of Gaza’s territory, according to military officials.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Civilian Impact
Local resident Osama Abu Askar, who lost his nephew in the Jabaliya strike, told Agence France-Presse that victims were hit while sleeping.
“We have been living under a ceasefire for months, and yet we were attacked again. Israel says one thing and does another,” Abu Askar stated.
Funeral gatherings took place at Nasser Hospital, where relatives and mourners assembled in prayer as the victims’ bodies, wrapped in white shrouds, were placed in the hospital courtyard.
Israeli Military Justifies Response
An Israeli military official said the strikes were retaliatory actions targeting what it described as Hamas violations of the ceasefire agreement, though specific details regarding the alleged breaches were not immediately disclosed.
The renewed violence highlights the fragile state of the truce and raises concerns about the sustainability of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the conflict and enabling reconstruction in Gaza.
