Israeli airstrikes on Gaza leave 14 dead

At least 14 people were killed early Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to the Civil Defense, just a week after the resumption of Israeli military operations.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the rescue organization, reported that "more than twenty airstrikes carried out by Israeli aviation in various areas of Gaza resulted in at least 14 deaths, including several children and women."

According to him, nine people, including a family of five—both parents and their three sons—were killed at dawn in the Khan Younis governorate in the south. Another five people lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, according to Civil Defense sources.

Bassal also mentioned artillery fire in northern Gaza, specifically in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, as well as in Khan Younis, areas where Israeli military operations have been concentrated for the past week.

When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military confirmed conducting strikes in Gaza overnight, stating they were part of "counterterrorism operations."

A ceasefire agreement brokered by international mediators took effect on January 19 after 15 months of war. However, after weeks of disagreements over the truce's extension, Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18 with heavy bombardments followed by ground operations, claiming it aimed to pressure the Palestinian movement into releasing the remaining hostages.

Since the resumption of military operations, at least 730 Palestinians have been killed in the besieged territory, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-led government.

Israel disputes the credibility of the ministry’s statistics, though the UN considers them reliable. AFP has not been able to independently verify the toll of the conflict.

On Monday night, air raid sirens sounded in Israeli towns near Gaza. The Israeli military reported that three projectiles launched from Gaza entered Israeli territory but were intercepted by its air defense system.