Israeli Strikes Kill 21 in Gaza, Test Fragile Ceasefire

GAZA CITY, November 23 — Israeli air strikes on Saturday killed 21 people in Gaza. Dozens more people were hurt. This news comes from Gaza’s civil defence agency.
The attack was one of the deadliest days since the US-backed ceasefire began on October 10. Both Hamas and Israel quickly blamed the other for breaking the truce.

Five Strikes Hit Gaza
Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defence (run by Hamas), confirmed the death toll. He called the attacks “a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

Five Strikes: Israeli forces carried out five separate air strikes in the evening.

Nuseirat: One strike hit a house in Nuseirat, killing seven people and injuring over 16.

Al-Nasr: Another strike hit a home in the Al-Nasr district, west of Gaza City, killing four.

Hospital reports show many of the injured people are women and children. Medics at Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el-Balah treated many victims with severe head and chest wounds.

Truce Violation Claims Traded
Both sides immediately accused the other of ending the ceasefire.

Israel’s Claim: The Israeli military said an “armed terrorist” crossed into Israeli-held territory. This person fired at Israeli soldiers. Israel responded by “striking terror targets.”

Hamas’s Response: Hamas rejected Israel’s claims. They said the strikes were “attempts to undermine the ceasefire.” They asked mediators to stop the attacks quickly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of breaking the truce first. “Israel has fully honoured the ceasefire, Hamas has not,” the office said.

Aid Problems Remain
The UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) reports problems with getting aid into Gaza. Restrictions on visas and import approvals still hold back aid deliveries, even with the ceasefire.

Jihad Abed Al-Aziz, a displaced resident, said the ceasefire felt “pointless.” He stated, “The crossings do not bring in enough to give us food… Life itself has no meaning any more.”