ISRAEL’s military has launched a wave of air attacks across Gaza, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including children, in its latest violation of a six-week old ceasefire in the war-torn territory.
The attacks on Saturday also wounded 87 others, according to authorities in Gaza.
Witnesses said the first strike hit a car in northern Gaza City, and was followed by more attacks in central Deir el-Balah and the Nuseirat refugee camp.
The drone attack in Gaza City killed at least 11 people and wounded 20 others, according to the managing director of al-Shifa Hospital, Rami Mhanna. It happened in the city’s Remal neighbourhood.
In Deir el-Balah, at least three people, including a woman, were killed when an Israeli strike hit a house there.
Khalil Abu Hatab, a witness, said the attack caused a “powerful explosion”.
“I looked outside and saw smoke covering the entire area. I couldn’t see a thing. I covered my ears and started shouting to the others in the tent to run,” he said.
“When I looked again, I realised the upper floor of my neighbour’s house was gone. It’s a fragile ceasefire. This is not a life we can live. There’s no safe place.”
The Israeli attack on Nuseirat also hit a residential building.
Anas al-Saloul, who witnessed the attack, said he was sitting in his home when a missile suddenly hit his neighbour’s house.
“We took the injured and came to the hospital,” he said. “There were injuries and deaths, and everyone in the street was covered in debris,” he added.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Israel has violated the United States-brokered ceasefire at least 497 times since it came into effect on October 10.
Some 342 civilians have been killed in the attacks, with children, women and the elderly accounting for the majority of the victims.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the continued serious and systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Israeli occupation authorities,” the office said in a statement.
“These violations constitute a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and the humanitarian protocol attached to the agreement. Among these violations, 27 occurred today, Saturday, resulting in 24 martyrs and 87 wounded,” it added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it launched the attacks after a Hamas fighter attacked Israeli soldiers in Israeli-held territory.
“In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas [fighters],” it said in a statement.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas on the slain fighters