Israeli Air Strikes Trigger Deadly Day in Gaza, Claiming 25 Lives

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:41:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

On a day marking significant violence, Israeli air strikes across Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 25 Palestinians, raising concerns of escalating tensions following a recent ceasefire.

The Gaza health ministry reports that Israeli strikes killed at least 25 Palestinians, including children, in one of the most violent days since a ceasefire began five weeks ago. The Israeli military stated the strikes were in response to Hamas gunfire. The situation poses a threat to the fragile ceasefire after the UN Security Council passed a resolution in support of peace efforts.

At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, marking one of the deadliest days since a ceasefire took hold five weeks ago.

Ten individuals died when a building belonging to the ministry of religious endowments in the eastern Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City was struck, as reported by rescuers.

The Israeli military contended that the strikes targeted 'Hamas terrorist positions' in response to gunfire directed at its forces in southern Khan Younis, which it claimed violated the ceasefire.

Hamas has condemned the Israeli actions as a dangerous escalation that threatens the fragile ceasefire.

This surge in violence follows a UN Security Council resolution endorsing US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan aimed at resolving two years of conflict.

Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence agency, noted that Israeli air and artillery strikes affected multiple locations in Gaza City and Khan Younis shortly after sunset on Wednesday.

The strikes in Zeitoun reportedly caused extensive damage to the religious ministry's building, with rescue efforts underway for individuals trapped beneath rubble.

Images circulated by the Anadolu news agency depicted the bodies of three young children allegedly recovered from the attack.

In a separate incident in Gaza City, one individual was killed when a drone struck a group at Shejaiya junction, while another life was lost due to a tank shell hitting a family home.

The Civil Defence reported an additional 13 casualties in Khan Younis, including three killed at a sports club operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The Israeli Defense Forces claimed that their response was warranted due to a breach of ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

In sharp contrast, Hamas reiterated its refusal to demilitarize without recognition of Palestinian statehood, considering its fight against Israel to be legitimate resistance.

This latest escalation occurred after a period of relative calm, intensifying existing fears regarding the potential for renewed conflict in the region.

Since the ceasefire began, the health ministry in Gaza reports over 69,500 deaths from Israeli attacks, with many occurring during the ceasefire itself.