Israel has once again carried out airstrikes in war-torn Gaza, killing at least 20 Palestinians in various areas. According to Israel, the strikes came after Hamas attacked Israeli forces near the southern Rafah border, injuring one soldier. Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “powerful” retaliatory strike on Gaza. The attacks took place on Tuesday (October 29), reports Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera.
The military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, saying they would delay the handover of the body of a missing captive.
In a statement, the group warned that Israel’s aggression would “disrupt the search, excavation, and recovery of prisoners’ bodies,” delaying the retrieval of the remaining 13 bodies in Gaza.
Tuesday’s strike marked the largest outbreak of violence since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10 under President Donald Trump’s mediation.
However, Hamas denied involvement in the Rafah attack.
In Washington D.C., U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that despite reports of attacks and violations by both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.
He told reporters, “That doesn’t mean there won’t be small clashes here and there. We know Hamas or another group in Gaza attacked an Israeli soldier. We expect Israel to respond, but I believe the President’s peace deal will hold.”
Medical sources in Gaza told Al Jazeera that among the dead were four people from the Sabra neighborhood in northern Gaza City, where Israel struck a residential building. Five others were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Sources added that at least 50 people were injured.
Al Jazeera journalist Hani Mahmoud reported from Gaza City that intense aerial activity continues, with drones flying overhead. A missile reportedly landed behind Al-Shifa Hospital.
“Eyewitnesses described the attack as massive. We are about 20 minutes away, yet the explosions were audible from here. The strikes caused widespread panic among hospital patients and staff,” he said.
Overnight rescue operations continued in Sabra to locate survivors trapped under rubble, as rescuers dug through debris with their hands. Doctors confirmed that women and children were among the injured.
Immediately after the attack, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying the Prime Minister had ordered the army to “carry out a powerful operation.”
Although the statement did not specify the exact cause, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz later said Hamas was responsible for the attack on Israeli soldiers and would “pay a heavy price.”
According to an Associated Press report citing two U.S. officials, Israel informed Washington in advance of the latest strikes on Gaza.
The Gaza Government Media Office said that since the ceasefire began, at least 94 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks. The flow of emergency humanitarian aid into Gaza remains heavily restricted.
