Israeli strikes on Gaza have escalated, killing at least 13 people, including five children, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
Hamas officials claimed the attacks “cannot happen without American cover,” highlighting concerns over international involvement. The strikes occurred despite a fragile US-sponsored ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025.
The civil defence agency, operating under Hamas authority, reported that Israeli strikes hit multiple areas across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim condemned the attacks, saying they were carried out on “fabricated pretexts” and have caused hundreds of casualties since the ceasefire began.
In response, the Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted “Hamas terrorists and terror infrastructure” after a failed projectile launch. Israeli officials said militants killed three of their soldiers during the same period.
The ongoing Israeli strikes have reignited fears of a wider conflict. Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza make it difficult to independently verify casualties and damages. Nevertheless, local sources continue to report increasing civilian suffering due to the airstrikes.
Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of evading commitments and deliberately escalating tensions to sabotage the ceasefire. Naim insisted that Hamas has “complied with all obligations under the agreement” and remains open to constructive dialogue for the next phase of the truce.
Meanwhile, Israel has stated it will not move forward with the second phase of the ceasefire until the return of the last hostage body held in Gaza. Search operations for deceased hostage Ran Gvili resumed recently after a two-week pause due to adverse weather conditions.
The repeated Israeli strikes have raised concerns among international observers, who call for restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.
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