UN condemns deadly Israeli strikes on Gaza

The United Nations human rights office condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as “appalling” after Palestinian health authorities reported more than 100 people killed, and called on all parties to implement the fragile ceasefire. Israeli forces said the strikes followed an attack that killed one soldier and targeted dozens of militants, weapons depots, tunnels and observation posts; Hamas denied responsibility for the Rafah attack and reiterated its commitment to the October truce. Gaza’s health ministry reported 104 dead and 253 wounded in the overnight strikes, including 46 children and 20 women, and footage showed bodies of women and children at hospitals and funeral processions for families wiped out by the bombardment.

Eyewitnesses and relatives described scenes of devastation: neighbours at a strike site in Nuseirat said an entire extended family was “completely wiped out,” while funeral processions and mourning crowds moved through several towns. Hospitals across Gaza reported chaos as medical staff coped with mass casualties and overwhelmed facilities. International mediators — including the UN, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross — warned the strikes risk undermining the ceasefire mechanism and could produce severe humanitarian consequences, noting displaced people sheltering in camps and tents were among those hit.

Israeli officials framed the operation as a response to ceasefire violations, citing an incident involving a returned body in a hostage exchange that Israel said did not match its records and characterising certain actions as breaches of the deployment “yellow line.” An Israeli military spokesperson said the IDF would abide by the ceasefire but reserved the right to respond should Hamas or Hezbollah resume hostilities. Following the attacks, Israeli authorities declared the truce reinstated while investigations and exchanges between the parties continued.

The incident represents the deadliest single-day escalation since the ceasefire took effect and has heightened fears of renewed wider conflict after a year of intense violence that has already caused tens of thousands of casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza. Calls for accountability and full implementation of the truce were amplified by the UN human rights office’s criticism, even as both sides traded blame. Diplomatic efforts to stabilise the situation and maintain the hostage-exchange and reconstruction framework face increased strain amid growing international concern over civilian harm and the immediate humanitarian needs in Gaza.