Israel Airstrikes in Gaza Leave 14 Dead Despite Truce; Hamas Cries Foul
Israeli military strikes have killed at least 14 Palestinians over the past two days, Gaza health officials reported Sunday, deepening fears of the collapse of a fragile ceasefire established in January.
Since a January 19 truce brought an end to major hostilities in Gaza, Palestinian authorities say smaller-scale violence has persisted, resulting in numerous fatalities. The latest wave of Israeli military actions in Gaza led to the deaths of at least 14 people, including civilians, according to local medical sources.
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In response, Israel’s military confirmed the strikes but stated they were defensive operations targeting terrorists who posed an imminent threat to Israeli forces. Specifically, Israeli authorities asserted that six individuals killed in a Saturday strike in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya belonged to the terrorist wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, claiming some had operated “under the cover of journalists.”
Among the victims in Beit Lahiya were several Palestinian journalists, prompting immediate condemnation from Hamas-led Gaza authorities. Salama Marouf, head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, accused the Israeli military of deliberately misrepresenting the identities of the deceased, firmly denying that any terrorists operated “under the cover of journalists.”
Additional casualties were reported following Israeli drone strikes on Sunday. In the town of Juhr Eldeek, central Gaza, a 62-year-old man was killed, and several others injured. Another drone strike in Rafah caused multiple injuries, according to local medical personnel.
