Deir al-Balah, Gaza – The fragile peace shattered on Saturday as Israeli airstrikes reverberated across the Gaza Strip, a stark reminder of the conflict’s precarious nature. Reports indicate at least 24 Palestinians were killed and 54 wounded, including a devastating number of children, in the latest escalation.
The strikes unfolded as international efforts to stabilize Gaza gained momentum, with the U.N. Security Council recently approving a plan for an international stabilization force and a transitional authority. This blueprint, however, appears increasingly distant from reality amidst renewed violence.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Similar waves of strikes have punctuated the ceasefire since its inception on October 10th, following reported attacks on Israeli forces. Just days prior, a 12-hour period saw at least 33 Palestinians killed, a disproportionate number of them women and children.
One particularly brutal strike in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood targeted a vehicle, leaving 11 dead and over 20 injured. Hospital directors confirmed the majority of those wounded were children, painting a harrowing picture of the day’s events.
Footage emerged showing the wreckage of the vehicle, its roof torn away, as stunned children and onlookers sifted through the debris. The scene was a chilling testament to the destructive power unleashed.
Further strikes targeted homes near Al-Awda Hospital and in the Nuseirat camp, claiming more lives and adding to the growing toll. At least ten were killed and over 27 wounded in these attacks alone.
In Deir al-Balah, Khalil Abu Hatab described a sudden, deafening explosion that blanketed the area in smoke. “I couldn’t see a thing,” he recounted, “I covered my ears and shouted for everyone to run.” His neighbor’s house was left with its upper floor completely destroyed.
“It’s a fragile ceasefire,” Abu Hatab lamented, his voice filled with despair. “This is not a life we can live. There’s no safe place.” His words echo the fear and uncertainty gripping the entire region.
The Israeli military stated the attacks were in response to an “armed terrorist” crossing into Israeli-held territory and firing upon troops. They claim no soldiers were injured, but accuse the attacker of exploiting a humanitarian aid route, labeling it a severe breach of the ceasefire agreement.
Separate military statements reported the deaths of five “terrorists” in Rafah and two others after individuals crossed into Israeli-held areas in the north, advancing towards soldiers. These claims remain unverified.
The current conflict ignited on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages. While most hostages have since been returned, the scars of that day remain deeply etched.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports a staggering 69,733 Palestinians have been killed and 170,863 injured since the start of Israel’s offensive. This number continues to rise, even during the ceasefire, as bodies are recovered and identified from earlier in the war.
The ministry acknowledges it doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but emphasizes that the majority of those killed are women and children. Independent experts consider the ministry’s records, maintained by medical professionals, to be generally reliable despite operating within a Hamas-run government.
