Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 32 Palestinians, including women and children, in one of the heaviest bombardments since a US-brokered ceasefire entered its second phase earlier this month. Rescue officials reported that the attacks targeted multiple locations, including a tent camp for displaced people in Khan Younis and residential buildings in Gaza City, escalating tensions in the fragile truce.
The strikes occurred on Saturday, January 31, 2026, with local authorities describing them as the most intense in weeks. According to the Hamas-run civil defence agency, the death toll included numerous civilians, and victims were pulled from rubble in several areas. The Israeli military confirmed the operations, stating they were in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas militants.
In Khan Younis, helicopter gunships hit a tent sheltering displaced families, resulting in multiple fatalities, including seven members of one family. Simultaneously, in Gaza City, air strikes demolished residential apartments and a police station, with hospital officials reporting children among the dead. The civil defence spokesman emphasized that the attacks struck residential areas, tents, and shelters, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement justifying the strikes, claiming that eight terrorists were identified exiting underground infrastructure in eastern Rafah, and that forces targeted Hamas commanders, weapons facilities, and launch sites. They accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire on Friday, prompting the military response. However, Hamas condemned the actions as “a brutal crime” and called for international intervention.
This escalation comes amid a precarious ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025, brokered by the United States. Since the truce took effect, over 500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities, while Israel reports four soldier deaths. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreement, undermining efforts to sustain peace.
International reactions were swift, with Egypt and Qatar, key mediators in the ceasefire talks, denouncing the Israeli strikes. Egypt urged all parties to exercise restraint, particularly with the Rafah border crossing set to reopen for limited movement on Sunday. Qatar’s foreign ministry criticized the “repeated Israeli violations” and called for adherence to the truce terms.
The violence highlights the ongoing challenges in implementing the ceasefire’s second phase, which aims to establish a technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza and begin reconstruction. US special envoy Steve Witkoff had outlined plans for demilitarization and aid, but persistent clashes threaten to derail progress. The war, which started after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has already claimed over 70,000 Palestinian lives, per UN estimates.
Looking ahead, the reopening of the Rafah crossing could facilitate humanitarian aid, but the latest strikes cast doubt on the stability of the ceasefire. Analysts warn that without de-escalation, further violence could erupt, jeopardizing long-term peace efforts and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
