At least 25 Palestinians lost their lives in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in a section of Gaza controlled by Hamas since a ceasefire began in October, as reported by the local Health Ministry. Medics confirmed that 10 individuals perished in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, two in the Shejaia suburb to the east, and the remainder in two separate attacks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military stated that its forces targeted Hamas sites throughout Gaza after members of the Palestinian militant group opened fire on Israeli troops, violating the ceasefire that had been in place for nearly six weeks. No Israeli soldiers were harmed in the incidents.
Hamas denounced the airstrikes as a dangerous escalation and called on the U.S. to enforce the ceasefire and cease Israeli attacks. However, an anonymous U.S. official accused Hamas of attempting to break the ceasefire and failing to honor its commitment to demilitarize.
Kifah Mahmoud, 58, recounted a harrowing experience in a tent where she and her family, including her four orphaned grandchildren, sought shelter in a camp west of Khan Younis. She described the chaos and devastation following the airstrikes, highlighting the lack of warning before the attacks.
The ceasefire’s fragility has been underscored by repeated skirmishes between Israel and Hamas. Both sides have accused each other of violating the U.S.-brokered truce, which is part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for post-war Gaza. The attacks breached an agreed-upon boundary separating Israeli and Palestinian territories, targeting significant buildings that housed displaced families.
Since the ceasefire commenced on October 10 in the two-year conflict in Gaza, some normalcy has returned, allowing many Palestinians to revisit the region’s war-ravaged areas. Despite this progress, violence has persisted, with Palestinian health authorities reporting 305 casualties from Israeli strikes in Gaza. Israel confirmed the deaths of three soldiers since the ceasefire came into effect.
In a separate development, a Gaza-based company operating water desalination plants serving nearly half of the enclave’s population resumed operations after a staff member, detained by Hamas security forces, was released. The company expressed regret over the misunderstanding that led to the detention and reaffirmed its respect for the Hamas-led government in Gaza.
The article also touched on the critical role of the desalination company in providing clean water to Gaza residents, as much of the region’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed. The company operates multiple desalination plants and water distribution trucks essential for meeting the population’s water needs.
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