At least 50 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday night as Israel launched heavy airstrikes across Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency and local hospitals. The attacks came after Israel accused Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire deal by killing an Israeli soldier in southern Gaza.
The Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said Hamas had crossed “a bright red line” and vowed the group would “pay many times over” for what he called a direct assault on Israeli troops. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed he had ordered the military to carry out “forceful strikes” but did not specify details.
The strikes hit homes, schools, and residential blocks in Gaza City, Beit Lahia, Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis, witnesses said. A Civil Defence spokesman said that 22 children were among the 50 people killed, with nearly 200 others injured. “Rescue teams are working amid extremely difficult conditions,” he said, warning that more victims could still be trapped under rubble.
Eyewitnesses described “pillars of fire and smoke” rising over Gaza City as explosions rocked the area. Five members of the Abu Sharar family were killed in Bureij, while in Khan Younis, a strike on a vehicle claimed five more lives.
The Israeli army said the strikes followed the death of Master Sergeant Yona Efraim Feldbaum, a reservist soldier killed when his unit came under fire in Rafah. According to Israeli military sources, Feldbaum’s engineering team was targeted by gunmen using rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles.
Hamas denied any involvement, insisting it was still committed to the ceasefire agreement. “Hamas affirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah,” the group said, calling Israel’s strikes a “blatant violation” of the truce.
US President Donald Trump downplayed concerns that the ceasefire could collapse, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “Nothing is going to jeopardise the ceasefire. Israel should hit back when its soldiers are attacked.” Vice-President JD Vance also said the truce was “holding” despite “little skirmishes.”
The renewed violence follows a diplomatic dispute between Israel and Hamas over the return of deceased hostages’ remains. Israel accused Hamas of handing over the wrong body earlier this week and released drone footage allegedly showing a “staged recovery” of remains a claim Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross both denied.
The ceasefire, part of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, required Hamas to return all hostages and bodies within 72 hours of the truce taking effect on October 10. While 20 living hostages were freed, 13 bodies have been returned so far.
More than 68,500 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began following the October 2023 Hamas attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead. With renewed strikes and growing mistrust between both sides, hopes for a lasting peace appear increasingly fragile.
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