The Palestinian tent camp in the Gaza Strip. Photo by Dawoud Abu Alkas / Reuters.
According to DW reports, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out strikes on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip. This information was provided by the press service of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statement clarifies that after security meetings, Netanyahu ordered large-scale attacks on Gaza.
Israeli media report that airstrikes were directed at the southern areas of the strip and the city of Gaza itself. According to the local Ministry of Health, nine people have died as a result of the attacks; however, the "Russian service of the BBC" later clarified that, according to information received from the Gaza Civil Defense and hospitals, the death toll has risen to 33 Palestinians. The strikes also caused damage to homes and educational institutions in areas such as Gaza, Beit Lahia, al-Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis.
Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of attacks on Israeli soldiers and violating the ceasefire. However, he did not specify the exact location of the incident, although, according to media reports, the attack occurred near the city of Rafah, located on the border with Egypt.
This is not the first time that the ceasefire in Gaza has been threatened: similar situations were observed on October 19 and 25, when the IDF also struck Hamas positions.
