Israel carried out fresh strikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing at least two people, after an overnight bombardment that killed at least 104 Palestinians, including children. The attacks shattered the short-lived relief felt by Palestinians since the start of the US-brokered ceasefire, which now appears increasingly fragile.
The Israeli military said it struck military infrastructure in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, where weapons were being stored for an imminent attack. Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City received two bodies from the strike. The overnight bombardment, one of the bloodiest in the two-year war, killed at least 46 children and 20 women, according to Gaza's civil defence agency.
Israel said it would continue to uphold the ceasefire but would respond firmly to any violation. The foreign ministry spokesperson blamed Hamas for the strikes, attributing the high death toll to the group using civilians as human shields. Hamas denied responsibility for a gun attack that preceded the strikes and said Israel intended to undermine the ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump said nothing would jeopardise the ceasefire but that Israel should hit back if its soldiers were killed. Vice-President JD Vance said the ceasefire was holding despite skirmishes. Qatar's prime minister said intensive diplomatic efforts were under way to prevent the ceasefire from collapsing.
Funerals were held across Gaza for the victims. Haneen Mteir, who lost her sister and nephews, told the Associated Press: "These are massacres. They burned children while they were asleep." The Gaza civil defence spokesperson described the situation as catastrophic and terrifying.
