Gaza: Europe and the Arab World

Israel announced a new offensive on the Gaza Strip, stating that the operation was in response to what it described as an attack by Hamas against its soldiers, a claim Hamas categorically denied.

Medical sources in Gaza hospitals reported that more than 60 Palestinians, including children, were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli airstrikes targeting homes and tents of displaced people in various parts of the Strip.

According to other media reports, at least 50 people, including 22 children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense. The exact death toll remains unclear. Medical sources quoted Al Jazeera as reporting that the number of dead was at least 63.

Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said, "At least 50 people have been killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks since last night, including 22 children and several women."

He added that approximately 200 others were wounded. He described this as a "clear violation of the ceasefire" and the situation in the Strip as "catastrophic and terrifying." Israel launched the nighttime attacks after accusing Hamas of attacking its forces in violation of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas denies this accusation.

In a US comment on the developments, President Donald Trump asserted that Israel must respond to the killing of any of its soldiers in Gaza, but stressed that the existing ceasefire between the two sides would not be affected by these incidents. Trump told reporters, "Hamas elements killed an Israeli soldier, and therefore the Israelis are responding, and they must respond."

For its part, the Israeli army announced the death of one of its soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip, explaining in a statement that the soldier, Yona Ephraim Feldbaum, 37, was killed in fighting on Tuesday.

In contrast, Hamas denied any involvement in the shooting incident in Rafah, affirming its commitment to the ceasefire agreement. The movement said that "the bombing carried out by the Israeli army on areas of the Gaza Strip represents a flagrant violation of the agreement," noting that "the latest attack comes as an extension of repeated violations during the past days that led to civilian casualties and the continued closure of the Rafah crossing, which reflects Israel's insistence on undermining the agreement and trying to thwart it."