By Isabel Conforme Coello
Correspondent
Over 104 people have been killed in one of the deadliest attacks that Israel has conducted on Gaza after the ceasefire was settled.
Israel resumed the airstrikes on Gaza on Oct. 28, breaking the newly formed ceasefire after claiming Hamas delivered the wrong body of an Israeli soldier. The airstrike order has reignited violence and drawn widespread concern from global leaders, who had called on both parties to observe the fragile ceasefire.
Israeli military officials said the handover of remains was part of the ceasefire deal for the release of hostages and recovery of fallen soldiers. Three of the hostages were confirmed via DNA to match the soldiers. However, as disclosed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), “the fourth body handed over … does not match any of the hostages,” according to the examinations carried out at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.
United States President Donald Trump weighed in aboard Air Force One, stating, “They killed an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back.” Renewed violence had escalated quickly after days of calm in the area.
Hamas, also called the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian armed organization and political group that has run the Gaza Strip since 2007. It has been engaged in ongoing conflict with Israel, and the recent escalation has been a sign of the mistrust that has built up over the years.
More than 104 people have died in the strikes, including more than 40 children and 20 women, according to Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, who spoke to NBC News. Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya confirmed that the hospital was “at full capacity” due to the large influx of casualties.
Hamas denied responsibility for the alleged killing of the Israeli soldier, and said the attacks were a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire deal.
A short statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Oct. 28 announced that he ordered the IDF to launch “forceful strikes” on Gaza, but didn’t clarify the reasons behind the decision.
“Hamas will pay many times over for attacking the soldiers and for violating the agreement to return the fallen hostages,” warned Israel Katz.
The ceasefire, mediated by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, is intended to begin the first phase of Trump’s 20-point peace proposal for Gaza. According to the deal, Hamas was expected to return 48 hostages within 72 hours after the ceasefire started on Oct. 10.
