Gaza Says Overnight Israeli Airstrikes Kill 50

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported on Wednesday that overnight Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 people across the Palestinian territory, following a series of attacks launched in response to the death of an Israeli soldier.

Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal condemned the strikes as “a clear and flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” while U.S. President Donald Trump maintained during his visit to Asia that “nothing” would endanger the truce he helped facilitate.

According to the agency, 22 children were among the victims, along with several women and elderly people. Around 200 others were injured in the bombardments, which reportedly struck tents sheltering displaced families, residential homes, and areas near hospitals.

Israeli forces began their strikes on Tuesday after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire by attacking its troops in Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed that a 37-year-old soldier, Yona Efraim Feldbaum, was killed in Rafah when his vehicle came under fire. Hamas, however, denied involvement in the incident and reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S.-brokered truce.

Residents described renewed fear and chaos as explosions hit parts of the Strip. “We had just started to breathe again, trying to rebuild our lives, when the bombardment came back,” said Khadija al-Husni, a displaced woman in Al-Shati camp.

Hospitals across Gaza, including Al-Shifa and Al-Awda, reported receiving numerous casualties, including children. Medical officials and humanitarian workers have warned that the escalation threatens fragile progress made under the ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, tensions over the return of Israeli hostage remains continue to strain the truce, with both sides trading accusations over delays and alleged violations of the agreement.

The conflict, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, has so far claimed more than 68,000 lives in Gaza, according to local health authorities. Despite the ceasefire, deaths continue to rise as rescue teams recover bodies from beneath the rubble.