Israeli airstrikes pummeled multiple locations across the Gaza Strip overnight, killing at least nine Palestinians and wounding dozens more, even as a fragile ceasefire agreement held in name only. The attacks, which targeted areas in Rafah, Khan Younis, and central Gaza, shattered a brief respite in the 15-month war, drawing sharp condemnation from Palestinian officials who accused Israel of deliberate sabotage.
Medics from Gaza's Health Ministry reported the dead included women and children among the rubble of residential buildings in Rafah, southern Gaza's crowded displacement hub. Witnesses described deafening explosions around 2 a.m., followed by Israeli drones hovering overhead. In Khan Younis, strikes hit a suspected militant site, according to local reports, but the ministry claimed no militants were present, only civilians seeking shelter. The International Committee of the Red Cross corroborated high civilian casualties, urging both sides to honor humanitarian pauses.
Israel's military issued a terse statement claiming the strikes targeted "Hamas terror infrastructure" that posed an imminent threat, insisting they complied with ceasefire terms by avoiding major ground operations. However, the operation came just days after a U.S.-brokered truce aimed at exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners and allowing aid convoys. Hamas, which did not immediately respond to the strikes, had previously warned that any Israeli violation would invite retaliation.
The ceasefire, announced on February 10 amid mounting international pressure, promised a six-week halt to fighting to facilitate aid distribution and negotiations. Yet, tit-for-tat incidents have eroded trust: Israel alleges Hamas delays hostage releases, while Palestinians point to restricted aid routes. Analysts note this flare-up risks unraveling the deal entirely, potentially reigniting full-scale war as winter aid needs peak in Gaza's devastated north.
Global reactions poured in swiftly. The United Nations called for an independent probe, while Iran's Foreign Ministry labeled the strikes a "Zionist provocation." Protests erupted in Ramallah and Beirut, underscoring the conflict's regional volatility. With over 45,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023 per Gaza authorities, and Israeli losses nearing 1,500, the latest deaths highlight the ceasefire's razor-thin margins and the urgent need for enforceable diplomacy.
