Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of five individuals and injuries to 18 others, according to local health authorities on Thursday. Medics reported that one strike on a house in Bani Suhaila claimed the lives of three individuals, including a baby girl, and left 15 others wounded. Another strike in the town of Abassan killed a man and injured three more. Although Israel’s military acknowledged the airstrikes, they stated they were unaware of any casualties. Both Hamas and Israel accused each other of violating the ceasefire that has been in place for nearly six weeks.
Later in the day, officials at Nasser Hospital confirmed the death of a fifth Palestinian due to Israeli gunfire in Abassan. The Gaza Health Ministry revealed that within the past 24 hours, at least 32 people, including 12 children and eight women, had been killed — marking the highest death toll since October 29. Israel launched the airstrikes across Gaza in response to an attack on its troops by Palestinian militants the day before.
Hamas condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and called for intervention from Arab mediators, Turkey, and the United States, who facilitated the ceasefire agreement. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of altering markings that delineate areas still under Israeli control, in breach of agreed-upon maps that designate over 50 percent of the enclave as Israeli-controlled.
Residents reported seeing changes to the markings in the Shejaia suburb, with yellow barricades indicating Israeli-controlled areas moved westward by 100 meters. Witnesses observed the Israeli army expanding its controlled zones and displacing residents from the Al-Sha’af area east of Gaza City. No immediate comment was provided by Israeli authorities regarding the altered markings.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Palestinians in Gaza City’s Zeitoun suburb expressed skepticism about the ceasefire, especially following the deaths of 10 individuals in a building housing displaced families. The ceasefire agreement, initiated on October 10 to ease the conflict in Gaza, has allowed Palestinians to return to the area and provided some relief. However, concerns remain regarding the situation in Gaza, with health authorities reporting 312 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the truce began, while Israel has lost three soldiers and targeted numerous fighters.
The conflict in Gaza stemmed from a 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel, resulting in significant casualties. The subsequent Israeli offensive led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. The ceasefire deal involved the release of hostages and prisoners by both sides. However, recent violence and allegations of war crimes in the West Bank have complicated the peace process. Human Rights Watch published a report accusing Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity for forcibly displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians from refugee camps, calling for accountability and action from the international community.