Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 26 as Fragile Ceasefire Comes Under Strain

Post by : Saif Nasser

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 26 people in Gaza on Saturday, according to local health officials, marking the deadliest attacks in weeks despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The strikes hit a police station, residential apartments, and tent shelters where displaced families were living, raising fresh concerns about civilian safety and the future of the truce.

Health authorities in Gaza said children were among those killed. One of the main attacks targeted the Sheikh Radwan police station in western Gaza City. Officials said 10 people, including police officers and detainees, died in the strike. Rescue teams continued to search through the rubble, fearing more victims could be trapped beneath the debris.

Another Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in Gaza City, killing three children and two women, according to staff at Shifa hospital. In southern Gaza, seven people were killed when a strike hit a tent camp in Khan Younis, where families displaced by months of fighting had taken shelter.

An Israeli military source said the attacks were carried out in response to what it described as a violation of the ceasefire by Hamas. According to the Israeli account, troops in Rafah spotted eight armed fighters emerging from a tunnel on Friday. Three were killed, and one senior Hamas commander was captured. Israel said this incident broke the terms of the truce.

Hamas did not immediately comment on the tunnel incident. The group accused Israel of violating the ceasefire through its continued military actions. Both sides have repeatedly blamed each other for breaking the agreement since it came into effect in October.

Scenes from Gaza City showed heavy damage to buildings, with blackened walls, collapsed rooms, and debris scattered across streets. Families searched through the ruins for belongings and survivors. One relative of the victims, Samer al-Atbash, questioned why children were being killed during what was supposed to be a ceasefire, expressing deep anger and grief.

Since the truce began, Gaza health officials say more than 500 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed by Israeli fire. Israeli authorities say Palestinian fighters have killed four Israeli soldiers during the same period. These ongoing clashes have weakened trust and made the ceasefire increasingly fragile.

The United States has been pushing both sides to move forward with the next phase of the ceasefire plan. That phase includes difficult issues such as Hamas laying down its weapons, further withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the possible arrival of an international peacekeeping force. Hamas has long rejected calls to disarm.

Despite the violence, there are signs of limited progress. Gaza’s main crossing with Egypt at Rafah, which has been mostly closed during the war, is expected to reopen soon. Many hope this will allow aid and people to move more freely.

Still, the latest airstrikes show how quickly the situation can worsen. As civilians continue to pay the highest price, the future of the ceasefire remains uncertain, and the path toward lasting peace looks increasingly difficult.