Dawn in Gaza today carried with it a quiet that felt too heavy for the light. Like a sudden shadow cast over familiar streets, reports of another violent night rippled outward as neighbors rose and braced for news. In places where even a gentle breeze can carry the sound of everyday life, this morning’s stillness felt edged with sorrow and concern — a pause between moments of loss and the tender work of tending to the living.
Rescue officials and local authorities in the Gaza Strip said at least 32 Palestinians were killed in a wave of Israeli air strikes that struck across multiple areas from late Friday into Saturday. The deaths, tallied by civil defence and hospital workers, came amid what some have described as among the deadliest incidents since the ceasefire that was brokered last year.
The violence unfolded even as both sides were navigating the fragile terms of a U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement. Israeli officials said their forces were responding to alleged violations of that truce, including incursions and militant movements near border areas, while Palestinian authorities described the strikes as unprovoked breaches that struck homes, police installations, and areas where families live.
In Gaza City, one of the strikes hit a police station, where rescue teams pulled bodies from rubble and the wounded from shattered doorways. In Khan Younis and other neighbourhoods, residential buildings and tents were also reported among the targets, adding to the toll of the injured and the bereaved. Among those killed were women, children, and local civil servants — deaths that many here say underscore how deeply the conflict touches civilian life.
Hospitals that received the bodies worked through the night to identify the dead and treat the wounded, their corridors filled with weary medics and grief-stricken families. Every stretcher carried both a name and a story, a reminder of how ordinary routines can be shattered in an instant.
For many residents, this latest round of violence is not an isolated moment but part of a longer narrative of instability and struggle. The ceasefire that began months ago has at times seemed like a fragile arrangement, punctuated by episodes of tension and sporadic violence that test its fabric. Even as diplomatic efforts continue to keep the agreement intact, events on the ground often paint a picture of fragility, where a single spark can rekindle fear.
Critics of the strikes pointed to the number of women and children among the dead, questioning how protective measures for civilians are implemented during military operations. Officials in Egypt and Qatar, who have played roles in mediating the ceasefire, expressed concerns that such episodes could further erode trust among communities already exhausted by years of conflict.
Israeli authorities, for their part, maintain that their operations are focused on militant infrastructure and leaders accused of orchestrating past attacks. They have framed their actions as necessary steps to safeguard their own communities, even as they acknowledge the complex and delicate nature of upholding security while striving to maintain pause in hostilities.
As the sun climbed higher this morning over Gaza’s resilient skyline, families sifted through the aftermath, searching for both closure and comfort. In the spaces between the headlines and the silent prayers at makeshift memorials, there is a shared longing: for a day when the sounds of alarm will be replaced by laughter and lives will unfold without abrupt interruption.
In the hours that followed, rescue officials confirmed the death toll of at least 32 Palestinians, with the possibility that figures may be revised as more information becomes available. Security sources on all sides reiterated that their operations will continue in accordance with their respective mandates, even as international calls for restraint persist.
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Sources Reuters Washington Post Times of Israel Anadolu Agency / AA The Annapurna Express / BBC