Israeli air strikes rocked the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least 11 Palestinians according to Palestinian officials, as the Israeli military described the operations as a targeted response to ceasefire violations by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Gaza doctors reported that one strike hit a tent encampment housing displaced families, resulting in at least four deaths. Health officials added that another air strike in the southern city of Khan Younis claimed five lives, while a separate incident in the north saw one person shot dead, contributing to the overall toll.
Among the targets was what the Israeli military believed to be a commander of Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, located in the Tel Al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City. The strikes came just days before the first meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesperson in Gaza, condemned the attacks as a new “massacre” against displaced Palestinians. He described the incident as a serious breach of the ceasefire, emphasizing its timing ahead of the upcoming US-led peace initiative.
An Israeli military official defended the operations, calling Sunday’s strikes “precise” and in full compliance with international law. The official stated that Hamas had repeatedly violated an October ceasefire, necessitating the response.
