‘Our bombs killed hostages’ in Gaza, says former Israeli army chief

On Monday, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip resulted in at least three deaths and several injuries, according to Palestinian health officials. Two individuals were killed and six wounded in two separate strikes in Khan Younis, while a third person was killed in an airstrike in Al-Mussadar. The Israeli military has not yet commented on these incidents.

Israel claims Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of a year-old ceasefire. Recently, the Israeli military has intensified its strikes on the militant group. Hamas denies any intention to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal, accusing Israel of undermining the Gaza peace deal. The last US-brokered ceasefire, signed last year, aims for the eventual reconstruction of the territory.

However, progress has been slow as negotiators have been unable to agree on terms for Hamas to disarm or Israel to withdraw its troops, who control roughly two-thirds of the territory. Hamas maintains effective control over the remaining third of Gaza, with nearly all of its 2 million residents living in war ruins, primarily in makeshift tents and damaged buildings still under Hamas's command.

Since the ceasefire, at least 1,580 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel reports that four soldiers have been killed in the conflict. Palestinian authorities claim the death toll is significantly higher, estimating over 74,000 casualties resulting from Israel's assault on Gaza. The assault began after Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.