Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed 13 Palestinians in multiple locations across the Gaza Strip, medics reported, revising the earlier death toll of seven.
In the southern Gaza Strip, an airstrike targeted a tent in the western area of Khan Yunis, killing four people and wounding three others, including children. Another strike east of the city, near areas where Israeli forces operate, claimed the life of one person.
In the north, a man was killed when an Israeli strike hit a school in Jabalia that was sheltering displaced families. Meanwhile, a strike near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza also killed one person. In Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood, four more fatalities were reported in a separate strike.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted several “rocket launch pits” after a rocket was fired from Gaza City toward Israel. The military said the rocket fell short, landing near a hospital in Gaza, and accused Hamas of violating the existing ceasefire.
The ceasefire, agreed upon in October, has yet to move beyond its initial phase, which halted major fighting, saw Israel withdraw from less than half of Gaza, and involved Hamas releasing prisoners in exchange for Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners. Future phases, outlined under a plan supported by US President Donald Trump, envision Hamas disarming, further Israeli withdrawal, and the establishment of an internationally backed administration to rebuild Gaza.
However, little progress has been made on these subsequent steps. Since the ceasefire took effect, more than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed. Nearly all of Gaza’s two million residents now live in temporary shelters or damaged buildings, in the limited territory where Israeli troops have withdrawn and Hamas has reasserted control.
The recent surge in violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and raises concerns over a potential return to full-scale conflict.