Gaza City – Despite a high-profile appeal by former U.S. President Donald Trump to enforce a ceasefire agreement after Hamas signaled acceptance, Gaza witnessed a night of relentless violence. According to the region’s civil defence agency, Israeli forces carried out multiple airstrikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City and surrounding areas overnight.
Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence, described the night as “very violent,” stating that dozens of strikes rained down across the city. His team, operating under Hamas authority, reported the destruction of at least 20 homes. He expressed deep concern over the escalating situation, saying, “The situation is very serious in Gaza City. Our rescue teams are struggling to reach victims due to ongoing bombardments and the presence of tanks on the ground.”
While Israeli military officials acknowledged the reports and said they were “checking” on the details, the impact on the civilian population has already been felt.
At Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, medical staff confirmed they received several wounded victims and four deceased from a strike on a residential building in the Tuffah neighborhood. Meanwhile, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, reported that two children were killed, and eight others injured when a drone strike hit a tent sheltering displaced families.
These attacks came just hours after Hamas publicly accepted the terms of a proposed ceasefire brokered by Trump. The plan, endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outlines a 72-hour ceasefire window, the release of hostages, Hamas’s disarmament, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas has responded, expressing willingness to release hostages but requested further negotiations to clarify terms and ensure representation in determining Gaza’s political future.
