Israeli airstrikes struck multiple locations across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least four Palestinians and wounding over a dozen others, according to health officials in the besieged enclave. The attacks mark a concerning escalation in violence despite a ceasefire that has remained tenuous since its implementation last October.
The deadliest incident occurred in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where an Israeli missile targeted a police vehicle, killing three officers from the Hamas-led police force and injuring ten bystanders. Medics at the scene described chaotic scenes as rescue workers rushed to extract casualties from the wreckage. Hours earlier, another airstrike hit the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northern Gaza, killing a Fatah group leader and wounding an unknown number of civilians.
The Israeli military confirmed it was investigating both incidents but provided no immediate details about the targets or justification for the strikes. These attacks come amid a noticeable increase in military activity following a brief lull after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets in late February. According to Reuters, residents and analysts have documented a steady rise in Israeli operations across Gaza in recent weeks.
Gaza’s health ministry reports that Israeli fire has killed at least 680 Palestinians since the October ceasefire ended two years of devastating conflict triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel. During the same period, Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed by militant activity in the territory. Both sides regularly accuse each other of violating the truce agreement, with BBC analysis suggesting the ceasefire remains fragile despite international mediation efforts.
The latest violence occurs against the backdrop of broader regional tensions following the February 28 attacks on Iran, which initially appeared to reduce Israeli operations in Gaza but have since been followed by renewed strikes. The Al Jazeera network has documented numerous ceasefire violations in recent months, with Palestinian officials warning that continued strikes threaten to unravel the fragile peace entirely.
As families mourn the latest victims and hospitals treat the wounded, international observers express growing concern that the escalating violence could trigger another full-scale conflict. With both sides trading blame and showing little willingness to de-escalate, the prospects for lasting peace appear increasingly distant.
Source: ARY News