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Civilian casualties

Gaza Conflict Escalates as Israel Strikes Kill 104 People, Including 66 Women and Children

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip killed 104 people, including 66 women and children, in the deadliest since the ceasefire began on October 10. The violence puts new strains on American pressure to keep the ceasefire on track, with US President Donald Trump defending Israel's strikes but also insisting the escalation won't wreck the truce. The Israeli military said its strikes were in retaliation for the shooting and killing of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, and that Hamas had violated provisions in the ceasefire deal concerning the handover of remains of hostages. Hamas denied any involvement in the deadly shooting and accused Israel of "a blatant violation of the ceasefire deal." The conflict comes as the US, Egypt, and Qatar mediated the ceasefire deal, with the Qatari prime minister saying there was a violation of the agreement by the Palestinian party.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Israeli military carried out airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, killing 104 people, including 66 women and children, and wounding 253 people.
  • The strikes were in retaliation for the shooting and killing of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza.
  • Israel accused Hamas of violating provisions in the ceasefire deal concerning the handover of remains of hostages, while Hamas denied any involvement in the deadly shooting.
  • US President Donald Trump defended Israel's strikes, but also insisted the escalation won't wreck the truce.
  • The Qatari prime minister said there was a violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Palestinian party, but it was unclear if Hamas was affiliated with the gunmen responsible.
  • The ceasefire deal requires Hamas to return all the remains of hostages in Gaza as soon as possible, but Hamas has said it is struggling to locate the bodies of the hostages.

Statistics:

  • 104 people were killed in theIsraeli airstrikes, including 66 women and children.
  • 253 people were wounded in the strikes, most of them women and children.
  • The strikes were the deadliest since the ceasefire began on October 10.
  • Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by staging the discovery of some of the remains of hostages.
  • There are still 13 bodies of hostages in Gaza and their slow return is complicating efforts to proceed to the ceasefire's next phases.

Sources:

  • Associated Press (AP)
  • Satellite photos
  • Israeli military statement
  • Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City
  • Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis
  • Palestinian Health Ministry
  • Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein
  • Israeli military official

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