Israeli air strikes intensified in the besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 33 Palestinians, including 20 women and children. The attacks occurred less than 48 hours after the UN Security Council endorsed a US-drafted resolution aimed at implementing a ceasefire and establishing a transitional authority in Gaza. Israeli fighter jets targeted tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis and homes in Gaza City, leaving over 70 people wounded. Shelling continued into Thursday morning, with most casualties reported in Khan Younis. The Palestinian group Hamas condemned the strikes as a ‘massacre’ and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to escalate violence. The Israeli military claimed the strikes were in response to troops coming under fire in Khan Younis, though no injuries among Israeli soldiers were reported, and no Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for any attacks. Hamas accused Israel of fabricating the allegations to justify its actions. Since the ceasefire began on October 11, Israel has been accused of over 400 violations, including direct gunfire, aerial shelling, and demolitions of civilian structures. The Rafah crossing remains closed, preventing the wounded from receiving treatment abroad. The UN resolution, which authorizes a Trump-led transitional authority to govern Gaza, has been criticized by Palestinians and legal experts as a form of colonialism.
