Rising Casualties After Overnight Strikes
Palenstine (Journos News) – At least thirty-three Palestinians died in Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency and several hospitals confirmed the deaths.
The strikes came after Israel accused Hamas of breaking the ceasefire by shooting at its troops. Hamas denied the allegation and said it remained committed to the truce.
Israel Says Hamas Violated the Ceasefire
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said the attacks were a direct answer to what he called “clear violations” by Hamas. He claimed that fighters opened fire on Israeli soldiers inside Gaza.
The clash marks the most serious rise in tension since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began earlier this month under President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
In a televised speech, Katz said Hamas crossed “a bright red line.” He warned that the group would “pay many times over” for any attack or breach linked to the return of hostages’ bodies.
Hamas responded that it had “no connection” to the reported shooting in Rafah.
Homes and Streets Hit Across Gaza
Air strikes targeted homes and busy residential areas in Gaza City, Beit Lahia, al-Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis.
Civil Defence teams said rescue workers struggled to reach several areas due to ongoing explosions and a lack of heavy equipment.
“Some of the missing are still under the rubble,” a Civil Defence spokesperson told the BBC. “We fear the death toll will rise.”
Four members of the al-Banna family died when a strike hit their home in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood.
Another attack in Khan Younis hit a vehicle and killed five people, including two children and a woman.
Witnesses also reported explosions near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israeli military said it targeted what it described as “operational sites” used by Hamas.
Netanyahu Orders “Forceful Strikes”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he ordered “forceful strikes” after what he called “terrorist violations” of the ceasefire.
The military said the incident took place “east of the Yellow Line,” a zone Israel controls under the ceasefire terms.
Israeli media said troops in Rafah came under sniper fire and an anti-tank missile attack. Palestinian outlets reported Israeli artillery fire in southern Gaza at the same time.
Hamas Rejects Israel’s Claims
Hamas condemned the Israeli strikes. It repeated that it had “no link” to the shooting incident in Rafah.
The group called the air strikes a “blatant violation” of the U.S.-mediated deal.
Later on Tuesday, Hamas’s military wing announced a delay in returning the body of an Israeli hostage. It blamed Israel for what it described as repeated violations of the truce.
U.S. Urges Both Sides to Avoid Escalation
In Washington, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said the ceasefire was still in place. He acknowledged “small skirmishes” but said the overall agreement remained stable.
“We expect the Israelis to respond,” he said, “but the president’s peace plan will hold.”
President Trump also said the ceasefire would remain intact. He added that Israel “should hit back” if its soldiers were attacked.
Hostage Exchange Adds New Strains
Israel accused Hamas of breaking the ceasefire terms earlier this week. The group returned a coffin containing remains that did not match any of the thirteen deceased hostages still in Gaza.
Israeli forensic teams later identified the remains as belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, whose body had already been recovered in 2023.
Under the terms of the truce, Hamas must return all hostages and remains within seventy-two hours of the ceasefire’s start on 10 October.
Israel says Hamas released twenty living hostages on 13 October. In return, Israel freed 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
Israel also returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians in exchange for the remains of thirteen Israeli hostages and two foreign nationals.
Drone Footage Triggers Further Dispute
The Israeli military released drone footage that it said showed Hamas fighters burying human remains in eastern Gaza before calling Red Cross staff to the site.
Hamas rejected the footage as “baseless” and claimed Israel was creating “false pretexts for aggression.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed it visited the area “in good faith.” It said its team did not know a body had been placed at the site beforehand.
The ICRC called any staging of remains “unacceptable” during efforts to maintain the ceasefire.
Ceasefire Framework Under Heavy Strain
The truce, negotiated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, is part of Trump’s twenty-point Gaza peace plan.
The agreement requires Hamas to return all hostages and remains. In return, Israel must suspend offensive operations and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said the group could not locate every body due to Israeli ground operations. He said the fighting had “changed the terrain.”
Israeli officials rejected the claim and said Hamas “knows exactly” where the remains are kept.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Most of the deceased hostages still in Gaza were among the 251 people kidnapped during the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. That attack killed about 1,200 people.
Israel’s military operations since then have left more than 68,500 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Aid groups, including the United Nations and World Health Organization, warn that new fighting could halt fragile relief operations.
They say millions of people in Gaza remain displaced and rely on food, shelter, and medical aid.
Source: BBC – Israeli strikes kill 33 in Gaza, Hamas-run civil defence says, as Trump insists ceasefire remains
