Israel’s warplanes initiated a forceful assault on Gaza following the breakdown of talks to extend the week-old truce between Israel and Hamas
Intensive bombardment targeted eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn, creating columns of smoke reported by journalists in the city.
Within hours of the truce expiration, Gaza health officials reported 109 casualties and dozens wounded in airstrikes hitting at least eight homes. Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip faced the most intense bombing, impacting hundreds of thousands sheltering from northern conflicts. Central and northern areas also experienced house strikes.
Gazans expressed fears that the bombing in southern parts could signify an expansion of the war into areas previously deemed safe by Israel. The collapse of the truce heightened tensions, resulting in a grim resurgence of violence in the region.
