Israel military says resumed Gaza ceasefire after series of airstrikes

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it had resumed enforcing the Gaza ceasefire agreement after a series of strikes across the enclave that it claimed was in response to Hamas violations.

“Following a series of strikes, in which dozens of terror targets and terrorists were struck, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire in response to Hamas’ violations,” the military said.

“As part of the strikes, the IDF and ISA struck 30 terrorists holding command positions within the terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip,” it added.

Gaza’s civil defense agency and hospitals said Wednesday that a series of Israeli strikes killed more than 100 people across the Palestinian territory.

“At least 101 fatalities were brought to hospitals, including 35 children and a number of women and elderly, as a result of Israeli air strikes in less than 12 hours,” said Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authority.

The toll was confirmed by an AFP tally of reports from medical officials at five Gaza hospitals that received the dead and wounded.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza was not at risk after Israel launched airstrikes in the enclave in response to the killing of the Israeli soldier.

“As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back,” he added.

“Nothing is going to jeopardize” the ceasefire, Trump said. “You have to understand Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave.”

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes, which followed a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying he had ordered immediate “powerful attacks.”