Israeli air strikes hit Gaza as tensions rise over fragile ceasefirepublished at 19:22 GMT
19:22 GMT
Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent in Istanbul
A spokesman for Hamas’s Civil Defence told the BBC that three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in a series of Israeli air strikes that hit homes, the courtyard of al-Shifa Hospital, and several other areas in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
Witnesses and local residents reported hearing powerful explosions that shook several parts of the enclave, with the heaviest strikes concentrated in Gaza City.
The new wave of attacks came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to resume strikes on Gaza, following days of rising tension and accusations that Hamas was stalling over the recovery of Israeli captives’ remains.
In a statement, Hamas denied any connection to a shooting incident that targeted an Israeli army unit in the southern city of Rafah, saying the group remains committed to the ceasefire agreement brokered through Egyptian and Qatari mediation.
The escalation has deepened fears among residents that the already fragile truce could collapse, especially amid growing mistrust between the parties and stalled efforts to move to the second phase of the Cairo agreement.