Gaza Ceasefire Under Strain as Israeli Air Strikes Kill 101, Including 35 Children

At least 101 Palestinians, including 35 children, were killed in a series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in what Gaza’s...

At least 101 Palestinians, including 35 children, were killed in a series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in what Gaza’s civil defence agency called a “clear and flagrant violation” of the fragile US-brokered ceasefire.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence agency, told AFP that the situation on the ground was “catastrophic and terrifying.”

“At least 101 fatalities were brought to hospitals, including 35 children and several women and elderly, as a result of Israeli air strikes in less than 12 hours,” Bassal said.

Israel Confirms Strikes, Says Ceasefire Now Restored

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had carried out “a number of strikes” against what it described as “terror targets and terrorists” inside Gaza. The military added that the ceasefire was now back in effect following the operations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered what he termed “powerful strikes” after Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of attacking Israeli soldiers inside Gaza.

Katz did not disclose the exact location of the alleged incident. Hamas, however, denied responsibility, saying its fighters had “no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah” and maintained that it continued to adhere to the ceasefire.

Trump: ‘Nothing Will Endanger the Ceasefire’

US President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One during his Asia tour, said that the ceasefire remained intact.

“They killed an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back — and they should hit back,” Trump said, adding that “nothing’s going to jeopardise” the truce.

The remarks came amid growing concerns that renewed violence could unravel the October 10 ceasefire, which was brokered by Washington to halt months of hostilities.

Ceasefire Tested Repeatedly

Despite several flare-ups, the ceasefire had largely held for nearly three weeks.

On October 19, Israel reported that two of its soldiers were killed by Hamas fire, prompting air strikes that local health officials said killed more than 40 Palestinians.
Over the past weekend, Israel launched another air raid, claiming it targeted Islamic Jihad militants preparing an attack — an incident that injured several civilians, according to Gaza authorities.

Hostage Issue Adds to Tensions

Thirteen bodies of Israeli hostages are still believed to be in Gaza. Hamas said on Tuesday it had recovered the remains of one hostage.

However, following Israel’s latest strikes, the group announced that it would delay the handover of two more hostage remains, citing what it called Israeli “aggression.”

Growing Humanitarian Crisis

Local hospitals, already strained by months of conflict, are struggling to cope with the surge in casualties. Aid groups have warned of severe shortages of fuel, medicines, and medical supplies, even as rescue teams continue to search through the rubble.

Bassal said emergency workers were “overwhelmed”, noting that multiple families remained trapped under collapsed buildings.