Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 26 Palestinians on one Saturday and at least 21 on a subsequent Wednesday. These incidents marked some of the highest daily tolls since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on October 10.
The strikes occurred amidst reciprocal accusations of ceasefire violations by both Israel and Hamas. Complicating matters were developments surrounding the partial reopening and subsequent halting of patient evacuations through the Rafah border crossing.
Recent Strikes and Casualties
Saturday Strikes
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip reported that Israeli strikes on a Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 26 Palestinians. Locations included an apartment building and a police station in Gaza City, and a tent camp in Khan Younis.
- A strike on an apartment building in Gaza City killed three children, their aunt, and grandmother.
- A tent camp in Khan Younis was struck, causing a fire and killing seven individuals, including a father, his three children, and three grandchildren.
- A police station in Gaza City was also hit, leading to the deaths of at least 11 people, according to Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiya. Among the deceased were four policewomen and inmates. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry stated Palestinian civilians were also among the casualties in this strike.
- Casualties from these incidents included two women and six children from two different families.
Wednesday Strikes
Israeli strikes on a subsequent Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 21 Palestinians, including five children, seven women, and an on-duty paramedic.
- An early morning strike in north Gaza's Tuffah neighborhood killed at least 11 people, primarily from the same family. Casualties included two parents, their 10-day-old daughter, her 5-month-old cousin, and the children’s grandmother.
- A strike on a family's tent in Khan Younis resulted in three deaths, including a 12-year-old boy.
- Another strike in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis killed two people, one of whom was Hussein Hassan Hussein al-Semieri, a paramedic for the Palestinian Red Crescent.
- Tank shelling in Gaza City’s eastern Zaytoun neighborhood killed an additional three Palestinians, including a husband and wife.
- The Gaza health ministry reported a total of 38 Palestinians wounded by the strikes on Wednesday.
Overall Casualty Figures
Gaza's Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, has documented over 556 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and 1,500 wounded since the ceasefire began on October 10, with most being civilians.
United Nations agencies and independent experts generally consider the ministry's casualty records reliable. Israel's military reports that four Israeli soldiers have been killed during the same period. Since the war's commencement on October 7, 2023, over 71,800 Palestinians have been killed. Israel reports 1,200 deaths, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals during the October 7 incursion by Hamas-led militants. Israel denies accusations of committing genocide in Gaza.
Ceasefire Context and Allegations
Israeli Justifications
An unnamed Israeli military official stated that overnight and Saturday strikes were conducted in response to reported ceasefire violations from the previous day, without commenting on specific targets. The Israeli military had reported killing three militants exiting a tunnel in an Israeli-controlled zone in Rafah on the Friday preceding the Saturday strikes.
Regarding the Wednesday strikes, Israel stated its actions were in response to a militant attack that seriously wounded an Israeli reservist soldier. The Israeli military has consistently stated that its strikes since October have been in response to violations of the agreement or militant attacks, targeting locations on both sides of the ceasefire's yellow line.
Hamas and Palestinian Response
Hamas characterized the Saturday strikes as "a renewed flagrant violation" and called upon the United States and other mediating countries to press Israel to cease its military actions.
Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, questioned the effectiveness of the ceasefire, stating, "The genocidal war against our people in the Gaza Strip continues. Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?"
Palestinians in the strip have also stated that the conflict does not feel concluded.
International Reactions
Eight Arab and Muslim countries, including mediators Egypt and Qatar, have condemned what they termed Israel's "repeated violations" of the agreement.
Rafah Border Crossing Developments
Scheduled Opening and Significance
The strikes took place shortly before the Rafah crossing, which borders Egypt in Gaza's southernmost city, was scheduled for a limited opening. All of the territory’s border crossings had been closed for almost the entire duration of the conflict.
Palestinians view Rafah as a critical access point for those needing medical treatment outside the territory, where much of the medical infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. The initial, limited opening was considered a significant step in the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
Partial Reopening and Halt
The crossing partly reopened on Monday, facilitating the passage of a small number of Palestinians for the first time in months. On Tuesday, 16 patients from Gaza and 40 of their escorts successfully crossed into Egypt, while 40 Palestinians entered Gaza after delays.
However, health officials reported that Israel had ceased allowing medical patients to cross the Rafah border into Egypt by Wednesday. Patients awaiting evacuation were informed that:
"today there is no travel at all, the crossing is closed."
The Red Crescent indicated that patients had arrived at a hospital in Khan Younis, anticipating crossing Rafah for treatment, only to be informed that Israel had postponed the evacuations.
Reasons for Halting Crossings
The Israeli military agency controlling Gaza access, Cogat, stated on Wednesday that the Rafah crossing remained open but had not received the necessary coordination details from the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate crossings. The WHO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An Egyptian security source reported ongoing efforts to reopen Rafah, adding that Israel had cited security issues as the reason for the closure. Reuters reported that Israel reportedly intends to permit only 150 Palestinians to enter Gaza through Rafah daily, aiming to ensure that more individuals depart than enter.
Reports of Interrogation
Three women who returned to Gaza via Rafah on Monday informed the Associated Press that Israeli troops interrogated and threatened them, holding them blindfolded and handcuffed for several hours before their release. The Israeli military stated it had no knowledge of arrests or inappropriate conduct by the Israeli security establishment.
Broader Ceasefire Status
Second Phase Objectives
Reopening borders is one of several challenging issues on the agenda for the second phase of the ceasefire. This phase also includes demilitarizing the strip and establishing a new government to oversee reconstruction efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the commencement of the ceasefire's second phase in January, intended for negotiations on Gaza's future governance and reconstruction.
Progress and Stalls
While not all fighting has ceased, certain components of the ceasefire agreement have advanced. These include Hamas releasing all hostages, Israel releasing several thousand Palestinians, increased humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and a new technocratic committee being appointed to manage daily affairs.
However, other key elements remain stalled, such as the deployment of an international security force, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of Gaza. The U.S. has not provided a timeline for the completion of these aspects of the deal. The ceasefire has been marked by near-daily violence.