GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Israeli warplanes escalated their attacks on multiple areas across the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Thursday, launching intense airstrikes in the north, center, and south of the region, marking a new breach of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
At least one person was killed, and several others were injured in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, following Israeli gunfire.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing powerful explosions caused by Israeli air raids on eastern Gaza City, the central governorate, and the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.
According to witnesses, the strikes targeted areas already under Israeli military control. The airstrikes were accompanied by heavy artillery shelling on various sites in eastern Gaza City and intense gunfire from military helicopters.
Israeli naval forces also intensified machine gun fire off the coast of Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip, sparking fear among residents.
Simultaneously, loud blasts were heard from the demolition of homes carried out by Israeli forces in areas they control east of Rafah and Khan Yunis.
So far, no official reports have confirmed the number of casualties from these airstrikes and bombings.
The ceasefire agreement in Gaza officially came into effect on October 10, 2024. However, Israel has repeatedly violated its terms, refusing to move to the second phase of the deal, citing the presence of a soldier’s body still in Gaza, despite Palestinian factions continuing search efforts amid the widespread destruction.
The ceasefire was meant to halt the genocide perpetrated by Israel since October 7, 2023, which killed nearly 71,000 Palestinians and injured more than 171,000 others, most of whom are women and children. Yet, ongoing violations and the suffocating blockade continue to dominate life in the besieged Gaza Strip.
