Israeli Airstrike Kills 25 Palestinians In Gaza

Illustration of Palestinian death toll from Israeli attack (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - At least 25 Palestinians were killed in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in parts of the Hamas-controlled Gaza region since the ceasefire took effect in October, health authorities said.

The four attacks far surpassed the agreed imaginary "yellow line" that separates territory under the control of Israel and Palestine, according to Palestinian medics, eyewitnesses and media.

Medics said 10 people were killed in Zeitoun, the outskirts of Gaza, two on the outskirts of Shejaia in the east, and the rest in two separate attacks on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Zeitoun's attack took place on buildings belonging to Muslim religious authorities and Khan Younis' attack took place on UN-run clubs, both of whom housed refugee families.

Meanwhile, the Hamas militant group denounced Israel's attack as a dangerous escalation and urged the United States to "respect the commitments that have been declared and immediately pressure Israel to enforce a ceasefire and stop its attacks."

On the other hand, the Israeli military said its forces attacked Hamas targets throughout Gaza after members of the Palestinian militant group opened fire on its troops who violated the six-week ceasefire. No Israeli troops were injured.

However, a US official who spoke anonymously, said Hamas was aiming to end the ceasefire and did not fulfill its commitment to demilitarizing.

"This desperate tactics will fail," the official said.

Repeated attacks have shown the fragility of the ceasefire. Israel and Hamas blame each other for what they both refer to as a violation of the US-brokered ceasefire, the first phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for postwar Gaza.

It is known that the October 10 ceasefire in the two-year Gaza war has eased the conflict, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the ruins of Gaza.

However, violence has not completely stopped. Palestinian health authorities say Israeli forces have killed 305 people in attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire, nearly half in one day last week when Israel retaliated against its troops.

Israel says its three troops have been killed since the ceasefire began and have targeted a number of fighters.

As of yesterday, the total death toll from Israeli aggression since October 2023 in the Gaza Strip reached 69,513 people, while 170,745 people were injured, quoted from WAFA.