Israeli Strikes Kill 27 in Gaza as Fragile Truce Faces New Violations

The Israeli strikes in Gaza have once again shaken a region already struggling to hold onto a fragile Gaza truce, with officials confirming that 27 people were killed on Wednesday. Despite the ongoing ceasefire, both Israel and Hamas accused each other of triggering fresh tensions, raising fears of another escalation in the Gaza conflict .

Wednesday’s attacks were among the deadliest since last month’s ceasefire began. Alongside the Israeli strikes on Gaza, Israel also revealed a series of operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite a nearly year-long pause in fighting there. These parallel actions have intensified concerns about wider ceasefire violations across the region.

According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, which is run by Hamas, 14 people died in Gaza City, while 13 others were killed in Khan Yunis in the south. Two hospitals contacted by AFP confirmed the same toll. The increasing human cost is once again drawing global attention to the fragile nature of the Gaza truce and the broader Gaza conflict.

Israel’s military claimed that the latest Israeli strikes were carried out after Hamas militants fired towards Israeli troops in the south, calling it a direct breach of the ceasefire agreement . Hamas, however, denied opening fire and called the attacks a “dangerous escalation,” warning that such ceasefire violations could completely derail the Gaza truce.

For many Gaza residents, the renewed Israeli strikes have revived old fears. Ahraf Abu Sultan, 50, told AFP that he returned to his damaged home in Gaza City only days earlier after a year of displacement. He explained how, after repairing just one room, the bombings began again. His story reflects the ongoing uncertainty of life under the fragile Gaza truce and the persistent Gaza conflict.

Another resident, Nivine Ahmed, described how she was speaking to a neighbour when the Israeli strikes suddenly shook the entire neighbourhood. The explosions, smoke, and panic reminded people of how unpredictable the Gaza conflict remains, despite ongoing ceasefire agreements.

With strict media limits and difficulty accessing several areas, AFP said it could not independently verify the tolls. The highest daily death count since the truce began occurred on October 29, when over 100 people were killed in Israeli strikes, according to data from civil defence teams and multiple Gaza hospitals. These events underscore how unstable the Gaza truce remains amid repeated ceasefire violations.

Israel has continued to target what it says are Hamas positions throughout the ceasefire, resulting in more than 280 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The current Gaza conflict is tied to the broader U.S.-brokered arrangement, which includes the return of the last 48 hostages taken by Hamas. While surviving hostages were returned early in the truce, the bodies of three remain inside Gaza. This ongoing situation has added pressure to the fragile Gaza truce and the unfolding Trump peace plan .

The second stage of the Trump peace plan has yet to be finalised. Key disputes remain regarding disarming Hamas, forming a temporary governing body, and deploying an international stabilisation force. Earlier this week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution endorsing the plan, though Hamas rejected it, arguing it does not address key humanitarian and political needs. The political dimension continues to influence both the Gaza conflict and ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

The latest Gaza conflict traces back to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,221 people. Israel’s response, according to Gaza’s health ministry—which the UN considers generally reliable—has resulted in at least 69,513 Palestinian deaths. These staggering numbers reflect the devastating scale of the Gaza conflict, even amid repeated attempts at ceasefire agreements.

Meanwhile, Israel also conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting what it said were Hezbollah weapons storage sites. The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its military infrastructure. Despite a ceasefire signed last November intended to calm hostilities, these fresh strikes highlight ongoing ceasefire violations between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.

This came only a day after another Israeli strike killed 13 people in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon—Israel claims the target was Hamas members. It was the deadliest attack in Lebanon since the truce began, further complicating relations involving Israel, Hezbollah, and the Gaza conflict.

In an additional show of force, Israel’s top leaders visited troops stationed inside Syrian territory on Wednesday. The troops were positioned in a buffer zone intended to separate Syrian and Israeli forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that the deployment was crucial for Israel’s security. Syria, however, condemned the visit, calling it a “serious violation” of its sovereignty—another flashpoint in an already strained regional landscape influenced by the Gaza conflict and ceasefire violations.