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The strikes followed the killing of an Israeli soldier in Gaza on Tuesday, with Israel saying the soldier was attacked by gunmen on territory within the 'yellow line' where its troops withdrew under the truce. Hamas has denied blame for the soldier's death. Israel's strikes mark the worst escalation of violence in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October. Even as Israel's military affirmed it still intended to uphold the truce, it announced it had carried out another airstrike in the north of Gaza, where it said weapons had been stored. Medics said two people were killed in that attack. Israel described its latest attack as a targeted strike in the area of Beit Lahia in the north of the Strip, where it said weapons had been stored. It said it would continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement while responding firmly to any violation. In response to the soldier's death, the military launched what it described as strikes targeting dozens of Hamas militants across the enclave, as well as weapons depots and tunnels belonging to the group. The Gaza health ministry said 46 children and 20 women were among the 104 people killed in the airstrikes. Despite the bombardments, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire was not at risk. "As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back." "Nothing is going to jeopardise" the ceasefire, Trump said. "You have to understand Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave." Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who has acted as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, said the attack on the Israeli soldier and the subsequent Israeli airstrikes had been "very disappointing and frustrating for us". Displaced Palestinians feared the truce could fall apart. "The sounds of explosions and planes made us feel as if war had started again," Ismail Zayda, 40, living in tents in western Gaza City with his 25-member family, told the Reuters news agency. Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 to Gaza in its attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 , according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. Under the accord, Hamas released all living hostages in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees, many of the latter held without charge, while Israel pulled back its troops and halted its offensive. Hamas also agreed to hand over the remains of all dead hostages yet to be recovered , but has said it will take time to locate and retrieve them. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by stalling in handing over bodies. download our app subscribe to our newsletter
