Israeli strikes kill dozens as both sides say the other breached Gaza truce

Israel's military launched a series of airstrikes on southern Gaza, killing at least 42 Palestinians and wounding hundreds more in what both sides have described as a breach of the fragile ceasefire. The strikes came after Israeli troops were targeted by Hamas fighters in Rafah, which Israel said was an attack on its soldiers.

However, Hamas denied any involvement in the clashes, saying contact with the group had been cut off since March and accusing Israel of trying to provoke a response. The Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, claimed it was adhering to the ceasefire agreement and accused Israel of supporting armed groups operating in Gaza.

The US State Department earlier alleged that Hamas would imminently violate the ceasefire deal with Israel, claims which Hamas rejected as false. However, the group said Washington's allegations provided cover for Israel's occupation crimes and its continued support for armed groups in Gaza.

The airstrikes have heightened fears of a new escalation in the two-year conflict, with Palestinians expressing fear and panic over the sudden attack. Medical sources reported that five Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in separate attacks on Gaza cities.

Israel's government has directed its military to take "strong action" against any ceasefire violations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding consultations with security heads before ordering strikes. The mood in Israel has shifted as a result of the clashes in Rafah, with some politicians calling for a return to military operations in Gaza.

Analysts say the fragile ceasefire is already under threat and that Hamas's claims of adherence to the agreement are unlikely to ease tensions. "This ceasefire, it's not the complete end of what we have witnessed over the last two years," said Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Hamas has arrived in Cairo to discuss implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Egyptian mediators and other factions. The group says it is committed to the terms of the deal but needs help and heavy machinery to locate and retrieve bodies trapped under rubble following Israeli strikes.

The Israeli military has identified the remains of two captives released by Hamas, which were handed over overnight in what Israel hopes will be a sign of progress towards returning all the captives. However, Hamas's armed wing says it is willing to return the remaining captive remains if field conditions are suitable and accuses Israel of trying to provoke a response.

The situation remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange accusations and concerns over the ceasefire. The fragile agreement is already on shaky ground, with fears of a new escalation growing by the hour.

I'm telling ya, this whole thing is not what it seems! Israel's just using this "ceasefire" as an excuse to keep playing their games in Gaza. They're just trying to maintain control and silence the Palestinians. Don't believe a word from the US State Department - they're just trying to cover up for Israel's occupation crimes. And now, with all these airstrikes, it's like they're trying to create more chaos and panic. It's like they want us to think there's some kind of progress being made when really, it's just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. The Israeli government is just trying to shift the mood in their favor, but we shouldn't fall for it. We need to keep our eyes open and see what's really going on here...

just great, another ceasefire that's gonna last like 5 minutes . Israel's military always playing it safe, right? "Strong action" =/= actual solution to conflicts . I mean, who needs diplomacy when you can just nuke the problem away . And honestly, what's with all these airstrikes? Can't they just talk it out like normal humans? The cycle of violence is so exhausting...

omg u guys like i cant even right now this is getting outta hand! israel's military just can't stop themselves can they? 42 ppl dead and hundreds wounded... that's crazy! and what's up with hamas saying it didn't attack israel in the first place? it feels like both sides are trying to blame each other for everything. and now israel's PM benjamin netanyahu is just egging them on by talking about taking "strong action"... like, dude chill out meanwhile, hamas' people need help finding those trapped under rubble... can't we all just get along? the ceasefire deal was supposed to be a step towards peace but now it feels like just another failed attempt.

the us state department is always saying stuff like this to try and influence israel's actions but honestly it feels like they're just making things worse , if america can't trust israel to keep their word on ceasefire then maybe we should be focusing on finding a solution that actually works rather than blaming hamas all the time , and what's with the constant need for strong action from israel's gov? can't they just chill for once?

omg just saw this news and i'm literally shaking my head in sadness... 42 ppl lost their lives in gaza and it's all because of a breach of ceasefire can't we just try to live in peace for once? the whole situation is so volatile and both sides are playing hardball i feel like they're not even trying to find common ground anymore it's like, let's take a deep breath and talk this out instead of resorting to violence fingers crossed that someone can help mediate this situation before things escalate further...

Ugh, this is getting so scary for Gazans - 42 Palestinians just lost their lives in those airstrikes. I mean, I get it, security is key and all that but can't they find another way to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence? The US State Dept saying Hamas would break the ceasefire deal doesn't help much... sounds like a bit of gaslighting going on

I'm really worried about the people trapped under rubble after those Israeli strikes - it's just so heartbreaking. And now, with both sides accusing each other, it feels like things are only gonna get worse

The fact that Hamas is saying they're committed to the ceasefire deal but need help and machinery to retrieve bodies makes me think there might be some truth to their claims . Maybe we should be focusing on finding ways to support a peaceful resolution instead of blaming each other?

just saw this news and its like whats going on in gaza... 42 ppl killed? hundreds wounded? its crazy how quickly things can escalate from one small incident to full-blown war. i feel for the ppl trapped under rubble, cant even imagine what its like . doesnt it seem like israel & hamas are just playing this game of cat & mouse over & over again? i mean, both sides claim they want a ceasefire but its hard to trust when theres so much history between them. any chance of peace seems to get shot down. its all so sad

I'm worried about this whole thing ... I mean, can't they just get along for once? The airstrikes in Gaza are crazy, and I don't think either side is being completely honest about what's going on. Israel says it was self-defense, but we've seen that happen before and it never ends well . And Hamas saying it didn't have anything to do with the clashes... yeah right .

I'm also getting frustrated with how quickly people are jumping on the bandwagon to support one side or the other without really understanding what's going on. It's not just about Hamas vs Israel, it's about a whole lot of complexities and histories that we're glossing over . And then there's the US State Department making these claims about Hamas violating the ceasefire... do they have any idea what they're talking about?

I guess what I'm saying is, let's all take a step back and try to understand each other's perspectives before we start throwing stones . This situation is already super volatile, and I don't want to see anyone getting hurt.

My mind is totally blown by this latest turn of events in Gaza. Like, how can two sides keep going back and forth like this? It's just not fair to all these innocent people who are caught in the middle. Israel needs to think about the consequences of their actions, they're basically trying to create more problems than they solve .

I also find it really messed up that Hamas is being accused of violating the ceasefire by the US State Department, like, what's going on over there? Can't they see both sides are doing things that don't make sense? And meanwhile, Israel is just launching airstrikes left and right without a second thought .

It's all so tragic. People need to come together and find a way to resolve this conflict peacefully, not with more violence and bloodshed . We need to support both sides in finding a solution that works for everyone, not just one side or the other .

man i dont get why they cant just keep the peace for once? 42 ppl killed and hundreds more hurt in one day its like theyre trying to provoke a reaction from each other and now theres fear and panic everywhere meanwhile israel saying its all about taking strong action against ceasefire violators but isnt that kinda already happening with this airstrike news i mean whats the point of even having a ceasefire if both sides are just gonna keep going back to their old ways

I'm still worried about this conflict . I mean, 42 Palestinians killed in one day? It's like, can't we just talk about what's really going on here? I know both sides have their own stories to tell, but it feels like they're not listening to each other at all .

I'm not sure what the US State Department is trying to say with those claims about Hamas violating the ceasefire deal, but it sounds like they're just fueling the fire . And Israel's government saying "strong action" against any ceasefire violations? That just seems like a fancy way of saying "we're going to keep striking Gaza until we get what we want" .

I saw some videos from Gaza cities and it looks like people are just trying to survive here . Five Palestinians killed, dozens wounded... that's not even counting the ones who aren't showing up because they were too scared to go out .

I don't think anyone's going to be able to talk their way out of this one anytime soon . We need some real leaders in both Israel and Gaza who are willing to listen to each other and try to find a peaceful solution. This just can't keep going on like this .

I'm getting the feeling that we're stuck in this cycle of violence and fear, and it's hard to see how we get out of it . We need some fresh perspectives and new ideas if we're going to make progress here .

it's like 2 sides r tryna stab each other in the back
they both say its a breach but they dont agree w/ what breached
israel says its Hamas s fault but hamas says its israel s occupation
usa claims hamas will break the ceasefire but hamas calls it out 4 covering up israel s wrongs
ceasefire is like a house of cards, one wrong move & it all comes crumblin' down

I drew a diagram to show u w/ ASCII art
```
+---------------+
| |
| CEASEFIRE |
| AGREEMENT |
| HOUSE OF |
| CARDS |
| |
+---------------+
| |
| ISRAEL'S |
| OCCUPATION |
| CLAIMS |
| |
v
+---------------+
| |
| HAMAS SAY |
| IT'S ISRAEL's|
| PROVOCATION|
| & OCCUPATION|
| |
+---------------+
```
anyway, situation is super volatile rn

I'm all for this ceasefire deal , but at the same time, I think it's a total waste of time . Like, if Israel's gonna keep bombing Gaza, what's the point? We already knew this would happen, and yet people are still holding out hope .

I mean, Hamas is saying they're committed to the ceasefire, but how can we trust them when they've been making threats against Israel all along? It's like they're playing both sides against each other. And what about the US State Department's claims that Hamas would violate the deal? That just sounds like another excuse for Israel to keep on attacking .

And don't even get me started on the Israeli government's "strong action" against ceasefire violators . It's like they're just making it up as they go along, and we're all stuck in the middle . This whole situation is a mess, and I'm not sure what the solution is .

But hey, maybe the Egyptian mediators will be able to help broker some kind of peace? Yeah, right ...

just saw this news and i'm really worried about what's happening in gaza it's like, can't we all just get along? both sides are saying different things and it's hard to know who to believe. i think israel needs to calm down and stop attacking gaza, it's not gonna solve anything. and hamas too, they need to stop firing rockets and stuff like that. can't we just have a peaceful conversation instead? this whole thing feels so sad and frustrating

just saw this crazy news about Israel's airstrikes in Gaza like, 42 Palestinians killed and hundreds more injured... that's insane what's going on?! seems like both sides are trying to blame each other for the violence but seriously, can't they all just get along? and omg, Hamas is saying it was all a setup by Israel to provoke a response... sounds like they're playing a pretty desperate game meanwhile, the US State Department is saying that Hamas will totally violate the ceasefire deal... what's their proof? anyway, it's super clear that this fragile ceasefire is already on shaky ground let's hope someone can calm down the situation soon