Israeli airstrikes kill 25 Palestinians in Gaza, rattling fragile ceasefire, medics say

At least 25 Palestinians were killed in four Israeli airstrikes in a part of Gaza under Hamas control since a ceasefire took effect, health authorities said.

At least 25 Palestinians were killed in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in a part of Gaza under Hamas control since a shaky ceasefire took effect in October, health authorities said.

The Israeli military said its forces struck Hamas targets across Gaza after members of the Palestinian militant group fired on its troops in violation of the nearly six-week-old ceasefire. No Israeli forces were injured.

Hamas condemned the Israeli strikes as a dangerous escalation, and urged the United States to “honor its stated commitments and exert immediate pressure on Israel to enforce the ceasefire and halt its attacks.”

But a U.S. official, who spoke anonymously, said Hamas was aiming to break the ceasefire and not fulfill its commitment to demilitarize.

“These desperate tactics will fail,” the official said.