Israeli airstrikes early Thursday morning killed at least 10 people and left dozens wounded, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency, as intense military operations resumed in the Palestinian territory.
“At least 10 civilians were killed and dozens more injured in Israeli airstrikes that targeted six homes east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip,” Mahmud Bassal, the agency’s spokesperson, reported.
Israel renewed its ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday, issuing what it described as a “final warning” for Palestinians to return hostages and remove Hamas from power. The assault followed Israel’s most intense wave of airstrikes since a temporary truce ended in January, leaving over 400 people dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Escalating Conflict in Gaza
The Israeli military announced it had “begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south.”
As international calls for restraint mounted, Gaza residents were left to search through the rubble for survivors and victims.
“We’re digging with our bare hands,” said one resident in Gaza City as he struggled to free a child’s body from debris.
The renewed violence forced thousands of civilians to flee areas labeled “combat zones” by Israel. Families with young children were seen moving southward in search of safety.
Fred Oola, a senior medical officer at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah, said the strikes shattered the relative calm of the past two months.
“Now, we can feel the panic in the air… and we can see the pain and devastation in the faces of those we are helping,” he said.
Israel Issues “Final Warning”
In a video address to Gaza residents, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated Israel’s demands.
“This is the last warning,” he said. “Take the advice of the president of the United States. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you—including the possibility of leaving for other places in the world for those who want to.”
Katz referenced an earlier statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned: “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”
Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that resulted in 1,218 Israeli deaths, 251 hostages were taken. Israel claims that 58 hostages remain in captivity, with 34 confirmed dead.
Hamas Rejects Deal Modifications
Hamas has signaled its willingness to negotiate but rejected Israel’s push to modify the three-phase deal brokered by Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. mediators.
“Hamas has not closed the door on negotiations, but we insist there is no need for new agreements,” said Taher Al-Nunu, a Hamas official.
Negotiations have stalled over disagreements on how to proceed with the ceasefire. While Israel and the U.S. favor extending phase one, Hamas wants to move to phase two, which would establish a long-term ceasefire and facilitate an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for a hostage-prisoner swap.
“Moving to the second phase seems to be a non-option for Israel,” said Palestinian political analyst Ghassan Khatib. “They don’t like the second phase because it involves ending the war without necessarily achieving their objective of dismantling Hamas.”
Meanwhile, Washington and Israel argue that Hamas’s refusal to extend phase one is a sign that the group is unwilling to release more hostages.
UN Buildings Hit, International Response
As bombardments continue, civilian casualties are rising. A UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) building in Deir el-Balah was struck by “explosive ordnance,” killing a staff member and injuring five others, the agency reported.
“This was not an accident,” said UNOPS chief Jorge Moreira da Silva, emphasizing that “attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law.”
At least 280 UN employees have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to UN figures.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed outrage on X (formerly Twitter), writing that he was “appalled” by the attack, which reportedly injured a British aid worker.
The health ministry in Gaza blamed Israel for the strike, though Israel denied targeting the facility, stating that the circumstances were under investigation.
Mounting Protests in Israel and Abroad
Thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict. Many accused him of resuming attacks without securing the safety of the remaining hostages.
“We want him to know that the most important issue is to get the hostages back,” said Nehama Krysler, a 67-year-old protester.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned the renewed Israeli strikes, warning that they are “shattering the tangible hopes of so many Israelis and Palestinians for an end to suffering on all sides.”
Death Toll Continues to Rise
The Gaza civil defense agency reported on Wednesday that at least 470 people had been killed since Israel resumed large-scale airstrikes earlier in the week.
Among the latest casualties were 14 members of a single family in northern Gaza, killed in an airstrike.
Before the new wave of strikes, the Gaza health ministry estimated the total death toll in the territory at over 48,570 since the war began in 2023.
