Gaza Death Toll Hits 81 After Massive Israeli Overnight Air Strikes; Ceasefire Near Collapse | World News
The death toll from heavy Israeli attacks in Gaza overnight reached 81 on Wednesday, hospital officials said; This poses a brutal test of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Authorities warned that most of the dead were women and children and that the number would increase further.
Casualties Reportedly Increasing in Gaza Hospitals
Hospital officials in the Gaza Strip reported an alarming number of deaths following intense shelling.
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Şifa Hospital: Director Mohammed Abu Selmia confirmed that 21 more bodies arrived at Gaza City Shifa Hospital, making the total number of deaths in the attacks 81. The latest victims include seven women and six children. Selmia added that the death toll is likely to increase as 45 of the injured are in critical condition.
Al-Awda Hospital (Central Gaza): The hospital confirmed that 30 bodies were recovered, including 14 children.
Nasser Hospital (Khan Younis, South Gaza): Staff confirmed that 20 bodies arrived at the hospital after five Israeli attacks in the area, and that 13 of the dead were children and two women.
Aqsa Hospital (Deir al-Balah, Central Gaza): After two attacks carried out by Israel in one night, at least 10 bodies, including three women and six children, were taken to the hospital.
Ceasefire Under Tension After Israeli Retaliation
The Israeli army confirmed that the ceasefire in force following the night’s attacks has been reinstated. He stated that Israeli troops would continue to maintain the ceasefire but reserved the right to “respond harshly” to any violations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued the order for “strong strikes” against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, accusing it of breaking the tenuous ceasefire. Reacting to this move by Israel, Hamas announced that the transfer of the body of another hostage was postponed.
The Israeli government’s order came after a clash in Rafah in which an Israeli soldier was reportedly killed.
US President Trump justified Israel’s action
US President Donald Trump, who facilitated the Gaza peace agreement, opposed Israel’s air strikes. Trump claimed that Israel had the right to launch airstrikes following the shooting incident in Rafah, in which he accused Hamas of killing an Israeli soldier.
Hamas denied any role in the deadly shooting and retaliated by accusing Israel of breaking the ceasefire agreement.
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