2 killed as Israel resumes military strikes on Gaza

At least two Palestinians have reportedly been killed following an Israeli military strike on Gaza City, marking a renewed escalation in the conflict.

The strike comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to resume operations in the enclave, accusing Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

However, Hamas has denied any breach of the truce, insisting that it has adhered to the terms of the ceasefire.

Suhail al-Hindi, a member of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza, said, “Israel must realise that we are committed to the agreement, and they must stop falsely accusing us of violating it.

al-Hindi told Al Jazeera the group faced “significant difficulties” during the recovery of the bodies of the Israeli captives.

“We have made every effort possible to recover the bodies, and the occupation bears full responsibility for any delay in recovering the remaining bodies.”

However, according to Al Jazeera, Gaza’s civil defence confirmed the death toll.

It added that four others were injured in Tuesday’s attack on the Sabra neighbourhood south of Gaza City.

A statement by Netanyahu’s office said that the Prime Minister had instructed the military to “immediately carry out powerful strikes” after “security consultations”.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza, Hani Mahmoud, said a missile had fallen behind the al-Shifa Hospital.

Mahmoud that Gaza is in tumult as drones continue to hover in the sky.

He said, “Eyewitnesses described the strike as massive. We are in an area about 20 minutes away, and we could hear it from here. The attack caused a state of mayhem and panic among patients and medical staff inside the hospital.”

However, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, claimed Hamas operatives targeted Israeli troops.

Katz pledged that the group would “pay a heavy price” for alleged attacks on soldiers and for “violating the agreement to return the bodies of the hostages”.