Escalating Violence: Israeli Air Strikes Claim 27 Lives in Gaza

Mon Feb 02 2026 20:22:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A new wave of Israeli air strikes in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians, as tensions rise despite a recent ceasefire agreement. Local officials highlight a significant civilian toll, including women and children.

Israeli air strikes on Saturday have killed at least 27 Palestinians in Gaza, including women and children, according to local authorities. The strikes, described as the heaviest since a ceasefire began earlier this month, were in response to alleged Hamas violations. Significant damage has been reported, with multiple strikes affecting residential areas and shelters. The situation remains tense as both sides accuse each other of ceasefire violations.

At least 27 people have been killed in a wave of Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to local authorities.

The civil defence agency, which is operated by Hamas, says children and women were among those killed. It added that in one attack, helicopter gunships hit a tent sheltering displaced people in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Palestinians have described these strikes as the heaviest since the second phase of the ceasefire, brokered by President Trump in October, came into effect earlier this month.

The Israeli military confirmed that a number of strikes were carried out in response to what it said was a Hamas violation of the agreement on Friday.

Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce since it came into effect last year.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said 'eight terrorists were identified exiting the underground terror infrastructure in eastern Rafah', an area in Gaza where Israeli forces are deployed under the October agreement.

The IDF said it had, together with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), struck targets in various locations including 'four commanders and additional terrorists' as well as a weapons storage facility, a weapons manufacturing site and 'two launch sites belonging to Hamas in the central Gaza Strip'.

Hamas has condemned the strikes and urged the US to take immediate action, adding that 'these ongoing violations' confirm that the Israeli government 'continues its brutal war of genocide against the strip'.

It was reported that seven of the victims were from one displaced family in Khan Younis, with a spokesperson noting that the strikes hit residential apartments, tents, shelters, and a police station.

Officials at Gaza City's Shifa hospital reported that an air strike on the city hit a residential apartment, killing three children and two women.

Video footage and images from across Gaza showed several bodies being lifted out of rubble and numerous buildings destroyed.

The war between Israel and Hamas began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and leading to 251 hostages being taken.

Israel's military response has led to the death of over 71,660 people in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The health ministry's figures are considered reliable by the UN and other human rights groups.

The strikes come as the Rafah crossing, Gaza's border with Egypt, is set to reopen on Sunday after the IDF recovered the body of Israel's last hostage earlier this week.