DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israel's military launched airstrikes against Hamas militants in Gaza on Saturday, marking a significant challenge to the ceasefire that began on October 10. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office reported that five senior Hamas members were killed in the strikes. Health officials in Gaza stated that at least 24 people died and 54 were injured, including children.

The airstrikes occurred as international discussions intensified regarding the governance of Gaza. The U.N. Security Council recently approved a U.S. plan that includes the establishment of an international stabilization force and a transitional authority overseen by President Donald Trump. This plan aims to create a potential pathway toward an independent Palestinian state.

Israel has previously conducted airstrikes in response to reported attacks on its forces during the ceasefire. Health officials noted that at least 33 Palestinians were killed in a 12-hour period earlier this week, with many casualties being women and children.

One of the airstrikes on Saturday targeted a vehicle in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, resulting in 11 deaths and over 20 injuries, primarily among children, according to Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital. Video footage showed children inspecting the damaged vehicle, which had been severely destroyed.

Additional strikes included one near Al-Awda Hospital, which killed at least three people and injured 11. Another strike in the Nuseirat camp resulted in at least seven deaths, including a child, and 16 injuries. A separate attack in Deir al-Balah killed three people, including a woman, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital.

Khalil Abu Hatab, a resident of Deir al-Balah, described the chaos following the explosion: "Suddenly, I heard a powerful explosion. I looked outside and saw smoke covering the entire area. I couldn’t see a thing. I covered my ears and started shouting to the others in the tent to run. When I looked again, I realized the upper floor of my neighbor’s house was gone." He expressed concern about the ongoing violence, stating, "It’s a fragile ceasefire. This is not a life we can live. There’s no safe place."

In a statement, Israel's military explained that the airstrikes were a response to an incident where an "armed terrorist" crossed into an Israeli-held area and opened fire on troops in southern Gaza. The military claimed that no Israeli soldiers were injured and labeled the incident an "extreme violation" of the ceasefire.

The military also reported that five "terrorists" were killed in the Rafah area, and two others were shot after they approached Israeli-held areas in northern Gaza.

The conflict escalated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken. Most hostages or their remains have since been returned through ceasefires or negotiations. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the ongoing conflict has resulted in 69,733 Palestinian deaths and 170,863 injuries due to Israel's retaliatory actions. The ministry's figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but indicate that women and children constitute a significant portion of the casualties. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and is considered to maintain reliable records by independent experts.