Gaza Death Toll Climbs After Israeli Strikes, No Agreement to Stop Attacks
CAIRO/JERUSALEM — Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza for a second straight day on Sunday, killing at least 18 Palestinians, according to health officials, despite President Donald Trump’s announcement of a breakthrough in efforts to implement last year’s ceasefire agreement.
Warplanes struck Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah, and Khan Younis from dawn, causing the highest daily death toll in weeks. Among the dead were a couple and their 9-year-old son in Mawasi, another couple and their child in Gaza City, and a family in Deir Al-Balah. Strikes also hit tents sheltering displaced families.
Trump announced Thursday that Hamas had agreed to disarm, raising hopes of a turning point. However, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Sunday there was no deal to halt attacks and that Israel would only accept “complete and true” disarmament before any withdrawal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later confirmed it had conveyed “concerns and comments” to the US on the proposed framework.
At least 1,230 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the October ceasefire, according to Gaza health authorities. Four Israeli soldiers have died over the same period, Israeli tallies show.
Hamas accused Israel of undermining peace efforts through escalation. Nickolay Mladenov, the US envoy for Gaza, said he was working to de-escalate and create space for full implementation of Trump’s plan, adding: “Achieving a lasting peace is hard but achievable.”
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