- Israeli strikes kill at least 82 Palestinians in Gaza since Wednesday.
- Gaza City experiences intense airstrikes, with one strike killing 18 people.
- A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is set to begin Sunday.
- Celebrations over the ceasefire quickly turned into mourning after renewed strikes.
- Ceasefire terms include prisoner exchanges and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed at least 82 people, with intense bombardments continuing despite a ceasefire agreement announced Wednesday evening. The death toll includes 30 people in Gaza City, medical sources told Al Jazeera.
One of the deadliest attacks targeted a house near the Engineers Union Building in northern Gaza City, claiming 18 lives, according to Al Jazeera’s Arabic correspondent. In Sheikh Radwan, 12 bodies were recovered from the rubble. Central Gaza saw further casualties, with five people killed in a drone strike targeting a gathering in the Karaj area of the Bureij camp.
Residents briefly celebrated the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday, turning somber streets into scenes of rare jubilation. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported from Deir el-Balah that the joy was short-lived as fear of renewed violence loomed.
“People here are used to funerals, not celebrations. But even the brief joy was extinguished by the escalation of attacks,” Mahmoud said.
Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif described the atmosphere in Gaza City as one of dread. “Hospitals, shelters, and homes were struck directly after the ceasefire announcement,” al-Sharif reported.
Ceasefire Details and Uncertainty
The ceasefire, negotiated in Doha, is set to begin Sunday. However, tensions remain high, with expectations of intensified strikes leading up to its implementation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged ongoing negotiations over prisoner exchanges and other terms. Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq stated that the agreement meets their conditions, including Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the return of displaced residents.
Despite the announcement, questions about the ceasefire’s precise timing and implementation persist. The deal will reportedly unfold in three phases, though specifics remain unclear.
A Community in Crisis
The death toll reflects the devastating impact of ongoing violence. Among the deceased are medical professionals, such as Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, whose hospital in northern Gaza was destroyed.
As of January 1, 2025, over 10,221 Palestinian prisoners remain in Israeli custody, excluding those recently detained from Gaza.
While the ceasefire agreement offers a glimmer of hope, the ongoing airstrikes and humanitarian crisis highlight the fragile and volatile nature of the situation in Gaza. Both sides face mounting pressure to uphold commitments and prevent further loss of life.