Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza Leave 33 Dead as Ceasefire Faces New Strain

At least 33 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to the territory’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency and local hospital officials. The strikes followed Israeli accusations that Hamas violated the fragile ceasefire by attacking its troops, a claim the group has denied.

Renewed Tensions After Weeks of Calm

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said the attacks were a direct response to “clear violations” of the truce, accusing Hamas of firing on Israeli soldiers stationed inside Gaza. The incidents mark the most serious escalation since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect earlier this month under President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace framework.

In televised remarks, Katz warned that Hamas had crossed “a bright red line,” promising that the group would “pay many times over” for any aggression or breaches related to the return of hostages’ bodies. Hamas countered that it had “no connection” to the reported shooting and remained committed to the ceasefire deal.

Civilian Casualties Mount

The overnight strikes hit homes and residential areas in Gaza City, Beit Lahia, al-Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis. Gaza’s Civil Defence said rescue operations were underway “under extremely difficult conditions” due to continuing bombardment and a shortage of heavy equipment.

“Some of the missing are still under the rubble, and we fear the death toll will rise,” a Civil Defence spokesperson told the BBC.

Among those killed were four members of the al-Banna family, including three women, when their home was struck in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood. Another strike in Khan Younis hit a vehicle on al-Qassam Street, killing five people, including two children and a woman, according to emergency officials.

Witnesses also reported explosions near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City’s western Rimal district. The Israeli military said it was targeting “operational sites” used by Hamas militants.

Israel Cites Ceasefire Breach

In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had ordered “forceful strikes” in response to “terrorist violations” of the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli military claimed the attacks followed an incident “east of the Yellow Line,” an area delineating Israeli-controlled zones inside Gaza under the truce terms.

Israeli media reported that troops in Rafah came under anti-tank missile and sniper fire earlier on Tuesday. Palestinian outlets simultaneously reported Israeli artillery shelling in southern Gaza.

Hamas Rejects Allegations

Hamas issued a statement condemning the Israeli attacks and reaffirming its adherence to the ceasefire. “Hamas affirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and maintains its commitment to the agreement,” the group said, describing the strikes as a “blatant violation” of the U.S.-mediated deal.

Its military wing later announced a delay in returning the body of an Israeli hostage it said had been recovered earlier in the week, citing Israeli “violations” of the truce.

U.S. Calls for Calm

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters in Washington that “the ceasefire is holding,” while acknowledging “small skirmishes” could occur. “We know that Hamas or somebody else within Gaza attacked an Israeli soldier. We expect the Israelis to respond, but the president’s peace plan will hold,” he said.

President Trump echoed the sentiment, telling reporters that “nothing will jeopardise the ceasefire,” though he added that Israel “should hit back” if its troops were targeted.

Hostage Exchange Tensions

Earlier this week, Israel accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire terms after the group handed over a coffin containing human remains that did not belong to any of the 13 deceased hostages still in Gaza. Israeli forensic testing identified the remains as belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body had already been recovered in 2023.

Israel said the action represented a “clear violation” of the agreement, which required Hamas to return all hostages and remains within 72 hours of the truce’s start on 10 October.

According to Israeli officials, all 20 living hostages were released by Hamas on 13 October in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza. Israel also transferred the bodies of 195 Palestinians in return for 13 Israeli and two foreign hostages’ remains—one Thai and one Nepalese.

Disputed Footage and Red Cross Response

The Israeli military released drone footage allegedly showing Hamas members moving and burying human remains in eastern Gaza before inviting Red Cross personnel to the site. Hamas dismissed the claim as “baseless,” accusing Israel of creating “false pretexts for aggression.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) later confirmed it had attended the scene “in good faith” at Hamas’s request. “Our team was not aware a deceased person had been placed there prior to arrival,” the ICRC said, condemning the alleged staging as “unacceptable” amid ongoing efforts to preserve the ceasefire.

Ceasefire Framework Under Pressure

The truce, mediated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, forms part of President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. It requires Hamas to hand over all hostages—living or deceased—and for Israel to suspend offensive operations while allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya recently said the group faced difficulties locating all bodies, citing Israel’s ground operations that had “altered the terrain” and killed several individuals involved in burials. Israeli officials rejected the explanation, saying Hamas “knows precisely” where all remains are held.

Human Cost of the Conflict

Most of the deceased hostages still in Gaza were among the 251 people abducted during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has since left more than 68,500 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations and the World Health Organization, continue to warn that renewed hostilities could derail fragile relief efforts and worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, where millions remain displaced and dependent on aid.

Source: BBC – Israeli strikes kill 33 in Gaza, Hamas-run civil defence says, as Trump insists ceasefire remains