Gaza ceasefire under threat: Deadly Israeli airstrikes kill 32 Palestinians in 24 hours

Deir Al-Balah: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis early Thursday killed at least four people and wounded 18 others, local health officials said, part of a broader wave of attacks that left 32 Palestinians dead across Gaza in the last 24 hours. The strikes, some of the deadliest since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis and a building in Gaza City, killing several women and children.

The recent escalation followed an incident where Israeli soldiers reported coming under fire in Khan Younis. Israel responded with airstrikes but reported no casualties among its forces. Hamas condemned the strikes as a "shocking massacre" and denied firing on Israeli troops.

The ceasefire, now under pressure, has seen sporadic violations with each side accusing the other of breaches. Since the truce, Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants, has reported over 300 deaths, averaging more than seven per day. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 69,000 Palestinians since Israel launched its offensive following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas militant attack.

Concurrently, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah sites and weapons storage, as the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of rebuilding its capabilities in violation of ceasefire agreements. One drone strike killed a Hezbollah operative, and an earlier strike in the Lebanese village of Tiri killed one person and injured several, including students on a nearby bus.

Meanwhile, Israeli settlers established a new settlement near Bethlehem in Gush Etzion, with local Israeli officials praising it as a return to historic and religious sites. This development occurs amid ongoing tensions over settlement expansion in the West Bank, a contentious issue tied deeply to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

With inputs from PTI