At least 25 Palestinians lost their lives in four separate Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in an area of Gaza controlled by Hamas under a tenuous ceasefire since October, as reported by the local Health Ministry. Medics confirmed that 10 individuals perished in Zeitoun, two in Shejaia, and the remaining casualties in Khan Younis in the southern part of Gaza. The Israeli military stated that it targeted Hamas sites throughout Gaza in response to the group’s aggression towards its troops, breaching the nearly six-week-old ceasefire pact. Hamas denounced the attacks as a perilous escalation, urging the United States to enforce the ceasefire and halt the Israeli strikes.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, accused Hamas of attempting to disrupt the ceasefire and failing to uphold its commitment to demilitarize. Kifah Mahmoud, aged 58, described the chaos and devastation caused by the airstrikes at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where she and her orphaned grandchildren sought refuge.
The ceasefire’s fragility was highlighted by recent clashes, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the U.S.-brokered truce. The attacks exceeded the agreed imaginary “yellow line” separating Israeli and Palestinian territories, targeting a Muslim religious building in Zeitoun and a United Nations facility in Khan Younis, both housing displaced families.
The ceasefire, initiated on October 10 in the ongoing Gaza conflict, has allowed many Palestinians to return to the region’s war-torn areas. However, violence persists, with Palestinian health authorities reporting 305 casualties from Israeli strikes since the truce began. In return, Israel claims three of its soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took effect.
In other news, a Gaza water desalination company serving a significant portion of the enclave’s population resumed operations after a staff member detained by Hamas was released. The company reiterated its commitment to the Hamas-led government in Gaza and apologized for the misunderstanding that led to the arrest. Hamas officials declined to comment on the incident.
Gaza’s water and electricity supplies were initially halted by Israel at the start of the conflict in 2023, but restrictions were later partially lifted. The water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza has been severely damaged, with electricity for pumps often reliant on scarce fuel due to Israeli restrictions on deliveries to prevent diversion to Hamas.
The water company’s operations are crucial for Gaza’s population, where access to clean water is limited. It operates multiple desalination plants and trucks that distribute water containers across the territory.
