This devastating outcome raises concerns about the effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement and the prospects for lasting peace in the region.
At least 82 people have lost their lives in Gaza in the aftermath of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Tragically, the violence escalated despite the truce announcement, with Israeli strikes intensifying and claiming the lives of 30 people in Gaza City alone, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.
This devastating outcome raises concerns about the effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement and the prospects for lasting peace in the region.
One attack near the Engineers Union Building in Gaza City claimed 18 lives, while 12 more bodies were retrieved from the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood by the Palestinian Civil Defence.
In central Gaza, a drone strike targeted a gathering in the Bureij refugee camp, killing five people, according to the report.
The death toll, which began accumulating at dawn on Wednesday, continued to rise as residents returned to their tents after briefly celebrating the ceasefire news.
The agreement, set to take effect on Sunday, has been overshadowed by fears of escalating violence in the interim.
“For a couple of hours, people turned this whole area into a stage of celebration,” said Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. “But we are expecting a surge in attacks by drones and heavy artillery.”
Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif reported from Gaza City that the initial relief among residents was short-lived, as Israeli airstrikes hit hospitals, shelters, and homes following the ceasefire announcement.
The agreement between Israel and Hamas includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced people, and an end to the conflict. However, Israel stated that final details, particularly regarding the exchange of prisoners, are yet to be finalized.
Currently, there are at least 10,221 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, excluding detainees from Gaza, such as Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the destroyed Kamal Adwan Hospital.
While the exact timing of the ceasefire’s commencement remains unclear, the truce will be implemented in three phases. The agreement has raised hopes for an end to the war in Gaza but has also heightened fears of intensified violence before Sunday.
