The fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza hangs by a thread following a deadly barrage of Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 50 people overnight, according to Gaza's civil defence agency. The strikes, which targeted civilian tents, homes, and areas near hospitals, mark a sharp escalation just weeks after the truce took effect on October 10, 2025. Sources attribute the violence to mutual accusations of violations, centered on a disputed soldier's death in Rafah and stalled hostage body recoveries, raising alarms over a potential return to full-scale war.
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| Gaza reports 50 dead in overnight Israeli strikes |
According to reports from Gaza health officials, the airstrikes claimed 50 lives, including 22 children, women, and elderly individuals, with around 200 others wounded. Targets spanned the Gaza Strip, from displacement tents in Al-Shati refugee camp to homes in Nuseirat and the backyard of Al-Shifa Hospital. Al-Awda Hospital received several bodies, including four children, from a bombing in Nuseirat. Mahmud Bassal, a civil defence spokesman, condemned the attacks as "a clear and flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," noting strikes near hospitals and civilian shelters. Earlier on May 23, 2025, similar operations killed at least 16 people, compounding the toll.
The escalation ignited Tuesday when Israeli forces reported enemy fire in Rafah killing 37-year-old soldier Yona Efraim Feldbaum, followed by anti-tank missiles on an armored vehicle. Israel blamed Hamas for breaching the truce, prompting the retaliatory strikes. Hamas denied involvement, stating its fighters had "no connection to the shooting incident" and reaffirming commitment to the agreement. US President Donald Trump, defending Israel's response during his Asia trip, asserted, "They killed an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back. And they should hit back," insisting "nothing" would derail the deal he brokered.
At the core lies a bitter dispute over recovering the bodies of 28 deceased hostages agreed upon in the ceasefire. Hamas delayed a handover, citing Israeli actions hindering searches in rubble-strewn sites, and announced finding two bodies Tuesday without specifying timelines. Israel accused Hamas of staging a prior return of partial remains—identified as those of a hostage recovered two years ago—claiming they were reburied for theatrics. Government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian stated, "Hamas dug a hole... placed the partial remains inside... and handed it over." Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem countered that bombardments have made locations "unrecognisable," vowing to return bodies "as soon as possible." The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged decisive action against these "violations."
Residents voiced profound anguish amid the renewed bombardments. Khadija al-Husni, sheltering in a Al-Shati school tent, lamented, "We had just started to breathe again... when the bombardment came back. It’s a crime. Either there is a truce or a war—it can’t be both." Jalal Abbas, a 40-year-old father, feared escalation, saying, "Israel always creates pretexts... using the issue of the bodies as an excuse." The broader conflict, sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack killing 1,221 in Israel, has claimed at least 68,531 Palestinian lives per the Hamas-run health ministry—figures deemed reliable by the UN. Under the truce, all 20 living hostages were freed, and 16 of 28 bodies returned, but post-ceasefire recoveries continue as bodies emerge from ruins.
These accounts, based on verified reports from Gaza authorities and international observers, expose the ceasefire's vulnerabilities. For the latest on humanitarian aid and diplomatic efforts, refer to UN and official channels.
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