A wave of Israeli strikes ripped through Gaza on Saturday, claiming the lives of at least 30 Palestinians, including numerous children – a devastating toll representing one of the deadliest days since the recent ceasefire began. The attacks targeted locations across the territory, shattering a fragile peace and igniting fears of a return to full-scale conflict.
Hospitals overwhelmed with casualties reported strikes hitting a Gaza City apartment building and a tent camp in Khan Younis. Among the victims were two women and six children, torn from two separate families. A separate airstrike leveled a police station in Gaza City, leaving at least 14 dead and many more wounded, according to the director of Shifa Hospital.
The violence unfolded on the eve of a planned opening of the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world not controlled by Israel. For Palestinians, Rafah represents a desperate lifeline, a potential escape route for the tens of thousands in dire need of medical care, as the territory’s healthcare system lies in ruins.
This limited opening was intended as the first step in the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, a fragile agreement meant to pave the way for long-term solutions. These include the daunting task of demilitarizing Gaza after nearly two decades of Hamas rule and establishing a new governing body to oversee reconstruction.
Egypt, a key mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, issued a strong condemnation of the strikes, warning they posed a “direct threat” to the political process. Qatar echoed this sentiment, labeling the attacks a “dangerous escalation” and expressing concern that continued violence could derail the fragile truce.
In Khan Younis, a strike on a tent camp ignited a raging fire, claiming the lives of seven individuals – a father, his three children, and three grandchildren. Atallah Abu Hadaiyed, a witness, recounted the horror, questioning the very nature of the ceasefire. “We don’t know if we’re at war or at peace,” he lamented, amidst the smoldering ruins.
The Gaza City apartment building strike left three young girls, their aunt, and grandmother dead, discovered amongst the debris. A grieving relative, Samir Al-Atbash, insisted the family had no connection to Hamas, emphasizing their status as innocent civilians. Body bags, marked with names, lay in a grim row against a wall.
Shifa Hospital reported that the police station strike resulted in at least 14 fatalities, including four policewomen, civilians, and even inmates. Another man was killed in a separate strike on the eastern side of Jabaliya refugee camp, adding to the mounting death toll.
Hamas swiftly denounced the strikes as a “renewed flagrant violation” of the ceasefire, calling on the United States and other mediating nations to compel Israel to halt the attacks. A senior Hamas official questioned the legitimacy of proposed international governing bodies for Gaza, suggesting a continued cycle of conflict.
Israel’s military defended its actions, claiming the strikes were in response to ceasefire violations. They reported that Israeli forces had killed three militants emerging from a tunnel in Rafah and four others approaching troops near the dividing line. These claims fueled a deepening cycle of accusation and retaliation.
Saturday’s death toll dramatically exceeded the daily average recorded since the ceasefire took effect. As of Friday, Gaza’s Health Ministry had documented at least 520 Palestinian deaths attributed to Israeli fire since the truce began, maintaining detailed records considered reliable by U.N. agencies and independent observers.
The current conflict began with a devastating Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages. The remains of the final hostage held in Gaza were recovered earlier this week, a somber reminder of the human cost of this enduring conflict.
