Israel Kills Dozens in Massive Airstrikes on Gaza After Hamas Fires on Soldiers, Breaking Ceasefire

Conflict and Airstrikes in Gaza

Israel launched a massive wave of airstrikes on Gaza after its military reported that Hamas fighters fired on Israeli troops near Rafah. The airstrikes resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, with local hospitals and outlets reporting varying tolls: around 44 killed, at least 42 killed, at least 45 killed, and 38 killed. Two Israeli soldiers also died following the initial attack by Hamas on Israeli forces.

Israel described the bombardment as a response to a ceasefire violation, while Hamas denied responsibility and stated it was adhering to the truce. Regardless of Israel’s justification, the airstrikes killed many Palestinians in multiple locations across the Gaza Strip.

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Ceasefire Breakdown and Aid Restrictions

The strikes shattered a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced on October 10. Israel openly linked the military escalation to alleged violations by Hamas and moved to strangle aid. Israel halted humanitarian deliveries and kept the Rafah crossing with Egypt closed.

The closure was conditioned on Hamas returning the bodies of deceased hostages before reopening the crossing. Some reports indicate the aid pause was later reversed under U.S. pressure. Other reports emphasize Israel’s ongoing restrictions and stricter enforcement of the blockade.

Gaza authorities documented dozens of Israeli ceasefire violations during the truce period. There were rising Palestinian deaths and injuries despite the ceasefire.

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Civilian Casualties in Gaza

Multiple sources document Israel hitting clearly civilian sites and people. Reports cite Israeli strikes on displacement tents and a school sheltering families, a cafe and a phone charging station, areas near a hospital, and a media building. An Israeli tank shell killed members of the Abu Shaban family on a bus.

Outlets also say hospitals received many bodies after the bombardment. These accounts collectively show Israel’s bombing killed civilians, including children, across central and southern Gaza during the declared ceasefire.

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Ceasefire Dispute and Attacks

Accounts sharply diverge on who broke the ceasefire and why Israel bombed so extensively. Israeli and allied outlets say Hamas attacked with an anti-tank missile and gunfire in Rafah. They highlight Israeli strikes on tunnels and “terror targets,” including over 120 munitions.

Hamas and several alternative and West Asian outlets deny Hamas initiated any breach and instead accuse Israel of repeatedly violating the truce. They also claim Israel restricts aid and uses pretexts to hit Gaza.

U.S. officials are reported warning of possible Hamas plots against civilians. Israel disputes Gaza casualty figures and does not publish its own.

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Hostage Exchange and Humanitarian Crisis

The humanitarian stakes and hostage negotiations intensified as Israel kept the Rafah crossing closed and linked aid access to the return of bodies. Casualty numbers continued to rise amid these tensions. Multiple Western sources report that Hamas has returned 12 Israeli bodies, while Israel demands the return of all 28 deceased hostages.

At the same time, Israel has sent back 150 Palestinian bodies, many of which remain unidentified. Under the ceasefire agreement, 20 living hostages were exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Health authorities and UN-backed reports estimate Palestinian deaths have exceeded 68,000 since October 2023.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera and Maktoob report about 97 killed and 230 wounded since the ceasefire began. Israel’s airstrikes and border policies are directly worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis during the supposed truce.

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