ISRAELI strikes in Gaza overnight into Monday killed at least 27 Palestinians, including one Palestinian hostage released by Israel during the ceasefire, according to local health officials.
Since Israel ended the ceasefire agreement last month, the military has carried out daily strikes on Gaza.
It has cut off the territory’s two million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March in what it says is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages.
The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gaza’s most vulnerable residents, including pregnant women and children.
An Israeli air strike hit a home in Beit Lahiya, killing 10 people, including a Palestinian hostage, Abdel-Fattah Abu Mahadi, who had been released as part of the ceasefire.
His wife, two of their children and a grandchild were also killed, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies.
Another strike hit a home in Gaza City, killing seven people, including two women, according to the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency service. Two other people were injured.
Late on Sunday, a strike hit a home in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing at least 10 people, including five siblings as young as four years old, according to the Health Ministry.
Two other children were killed along with their parents, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying the militant group operates in densely populated areas.
Israel's attacks on Gaza intensified on October 7 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.
Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, destroying vast areas of Gaza and leaving most of its population homeless.
Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Hamas has said it will only release the hostages it holds in return for Palestinian hostages, a complete Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire, as called for in the now-defunct agreement reached in January.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is either destroyed or agrees to disarm and leave the territory.
He says Israel will then implement US president Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle much of Gaza’s population in other countries through what the Israeli leader refers to as “voluntary emigration”.
Palestinians say the plan would amount to forcible expulsion from their homeland after Israel’s offensive left much of Gaza uninhabitable. Human rights experts say it is likely to violate international law.
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as called for in the ceasefire that Israel ended.
