Israelis killed 32 Palestinians in Gaza airstrikes

Israeli Kill 32 Palestinians in Gaza Airstrikes

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | November 21, 2025

GAZA CITY/Jerusalem – A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas teetered on the brink of collapse this week following a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip that resulted in the deaths of at least 32 Palestinians, including 12 children and eight women. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 88 additional individuals were injured in the strikes, which unfolded from Wednesday into Thursday morning, reigniting tensions in the war-torn region.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strikes targeted Hamas positions in response to gunfire directed at Israeli soldiers operating in Khan Younis, alleging a violation of the ceasefire agreement brokered earlier this year. The IDF maintained that no Israeli personnel were harmed in the incident.

Hamas vehemently condemned the airstrikes as a “dangerous escalation,” dismissing the IDF’s justification as a pretext for continued aggression against the Palestinian people. The group called on the United States to exert “immediate, serious pressure” on Israel to uphold the ceasefire and cease its military operations.

The latest violence has pushed the total number of Palestinian fatalities since the ceasefire’s inception to 312, raising serious questions about its viability. The escalation comes on the heels of a UN Security Council endorsement of a US-proposed peace framework, intended to transition the region from a tenuous truce to a more stable peace and facilitate the reconstruction of devastated areas.

Adding to the regional instability, Israel also conducted airstrikes targeting alleged Hezbollah weapon storage sites in southern Lebanon. These strikes, coupled with the Gaza attacks, represent the third major escalation since the ceasefire was implemented in October, each triggered by attacks on Israeli forces. Previous escalations on October 19 and 28 resulted in approximately 150 Palestinian deaths and three Israeli soldier fatalities.

Despite these recurring incidents, the ceasefire had largely remained intact, offering a glimmer of hope for a region scarred by decades of conflict. Footage emerging from Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital painted a grim picture of the aftermath, depicting chaotic scenes as victims of the strikes were rushed in, and mourners gathered around the shrouded bodies of the deceased, including young children.

One of the deadliest strikes occurred in the Zaytun area of eastern Gaza, claiming the lives of ten individuals, including a woman and a child, according to Gaza Civil Defense. Another strike reportedly targeted civilians at a UNRWA facility in Khan Younis, raising concerns about the targeting of protected sites.

The current conflict was ignited by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of over 250 hostages. Since then, the Gaza health ministry reports that more than 69,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed.

Under the initial terms of the US-brokered ceasefire, Hamas committed to releasing all remaining hostages, both living and deceased, while Israel agreed to withdraw from certain areas of Gaza and release some Palestinian detainees. To date, Hamas has released all living hostages and the bodies of all but three deceased individuals.

The recent airstrikes in Gaza were preceded by an Israeli attack on a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon that resulted in 13 fatalities. The IDF claimed the strike targeted a Hamas training facility. Additional strikes in southern Lebanon, aimed at Hezbollah weapon storage facilities, reportedly caused property damage but no casualties.

Israel’s military actions in Lebanon have been ongoing for over two years, targeting both Hezbollah and various Palestinian factions. These escalations have intensified since Iran-backed Hezbollah began attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas following the October 7 incident. The latest airstrikes occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect in November 2024, further complicating the already volatile regional landscape.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with growing calls for restraint and a renewed commitment to the ceasefire agreement. The future of the fragile peace hangs in the balance as both sides grapple with the aftermath of the latest violence and the urgent need to prevent a further descent into renewed conflict.