In brief
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 25 Palestinians, including a tragic incident in which a religious endowments building was hit, resulting in casualties among women and children. The Israeli military justified the strikes as a response to gunfire from Hamas militants, amidst ongoing tensions despite a ceasefire agreement.
At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported.
Among the casualties, ten individuals—including a woman and a young girl—lost their lives when an Israeli strike hit a ministry of religious endowments building in the eastern Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, according to rescue workers.
The Israeli military confirmed it targeted Hamas terrorist targets following reports of gunfire aimed at areas where its soldiers were operating in southern Khan Younis, which was deemed a violation of the five-week-old ceasefire agreement.
Violence has surged after a period of relative calm, with casualties including children reportedly recovered from the rubble of buildings hit by the attacks. The Civil Defence agency of Gaza has indicated significant damage to the targeted structures and the loss of lives, including a victim in Shejaiya from a drone strike.
This escalation follows a UN Security Council resolution endorsing a US peace plan to stabilize the region, amidst criticisms from Hamas regarding armed resistance and disarmament demands from Israel. The broader conflict continues to escalate since the Israeli military's offensive began in response to prior attacks attributed to Hamas.
