Palestinian medics report 15 killed in Gaza as Israeli strikes defy ceasefire, escalating tensions
At least 15 Palestinians were killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours as Israeli airstrikes continued despite an existing ceasefire, Palestinian health officials confirmed on Sunday. The deaths have sparked further fears that the already fragile truce between Israel and Hamas could collapse entirely.
Although a ceasefire has been in effect since January 19, Palestinian officials claim dozens have died in Israeli attacks since then. Israel, however, insists its military has only targeted “terrorists” attempting to approach Israeli troops or plant explosives.
The deadliest strike of the past day took place on Saturday in Beit Lahiya, where an Israeli airstrike killed nine people, including four journalists. Israel later stated that six of the deceased were militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, claiming some were operating “under the cover of journalists.” Palestinian officials immediately refuted this, calling the military’s statement false and misleading.
In addition to the Beit Lahiya attack, four more Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes on Saturday. Medics reported that an Israeli drone strike on Sunday in Juhr Eldeek—a town in central Gaza—killed a 62-year-old man and wounded several others. A separate missile attack in Rafah also left multiple people injured. The Israeli military has denied knowledge of these drone attacks.
Later on Sunday, another airstrike near Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood claimed the life of a Palestinian whom Israel accused of trying to plant a bomb.
The ongoing violence has put additional pressure on ceasefire negotiations, which were brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. in an effort to end hostilities between Israel and Hamas. However, deep disagreements persist.
Israel has pushed to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, a move supported by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas, however, has refused to cooperate unless the second phase begins, as originally scheduled for March 2.
Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that discussions were ongoing after a U.S. proposal sought the release of 11 living hostages along with half of the bodies of deceased captives. Hamas, in turn, offered to free American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and the remains of four hostages, but only if Israel immediately committed to the next stage of the ceasefire agreement. Israel dismissed this as psychological warfare against the families of hostages.
An Israeli delegation is currently in Egypt holding high-level talks with Egyptian officials regarding a potential hostage deal, but no clear resolution has emerged.
The latest violence comes amid the broader backdrop of the ongoing war, which began when Hamas launched a deadly cross-border raid into Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli officials, 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken during the attack. In response, Israel launched an all-out military assault on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians so far.
As bombs continue to fall and casualties mount, mediators are racing against time to prevent the truce from disintegrating completely. However, with no concrete breakthrough in sight, Gaza remains trapped in a relentless cycle of death, destruction, and despair.
