Israeli airstrikes targeted Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals following accusations by Israel against Hamas for breaching a ceasefire agreement. The casualties included five individuals in the Bureij refugee camp, four in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, and five in Khan Younis, including two children. The attacks persisted into the next day, witnessed across the Gaza Strip with reports of strikes in Gaza City.
The motive behind the airstrikes was not explicitly stated in an earlier statement from Netanyahu’s office, but an Israeli military official cited a breach of the ceasefire by Hamas in an attack on Israeli forces. Israel informed the United States prior to the airstrikes. Reports of an exchange of fire in Rafah between Israeli forces and Hamas were denied by Hamas, with the Israeli military refraining from commenting on the incident.
President Donald Trump affirmed the stability of the U.S.-backed ceasefire while en route to South Korea. Tensions escalated as Hamas postponed the handover of a missing hostage’s body to Israel, alleging Israeli violations of the ceasefire terms. Both sides have accused each other of violations, complicating the delicate ceasefire established to end a two-year conflict.
The issue of returning remains of deceased hostages has emerged as a pivotal challenge, with Netanyahu claiming Hamas deliberately misled by presenting false remains to prolong the process. Video evidence released by the Israeli military purported to show Hamas planting remains to deceive inspectors. Hamas justified delays in body handovers due to the destruction in Gaza hindering search efforts.
Israeli officials have urged a stern response against Hamas, pending approval from the U.S., the mediator of the ceasefire. Efforts to locate missing hostages have intensified, aided by heavy machinery from Egypt. Search operations are ongoing in various parts of Gaza, including tunnels suspected to house the remains of hostages. The conflict has left thousands dead and missing, with ongoing demolitions in Gaza by Israeli forces to dismantle remaining Hamas tunnels.