Israeli airstrikes kill 24 in Gaza after accusation that Hamas breached ceasefire
The strikes were ordered to hit targets of the militant group, the Israeli military said, but one reportedly hit a car in the densely populated Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City, killing 11 people and wounding several others
Israel has killed at least 24 people after launching four separate airstrikes on Gaza, following what it called a "blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement" by Hamas.
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The strikes were ordered to hit targets of the militant group, the Israeli military said, but one reportedly hit a car in the densely populated Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City, killing 11 people and wounding several others.
Gaza's health authorities said at least 13 people were killed in other strikes on houses near Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza, Deir al Balah and Nuseirat camp.
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At least 54 people, including children, have been injured in the attacks, health officials in the Palestinian enclave said.
Tel Aviv defended the strikes, claiming they were in response to a "blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement", after "armed terrorists" shot IDF troops in Israeli-held territory in southern Gaza.
Israel said the gunman had exploited "the humanitarian road in the area through which humanitarian aid enters southern Gaza", but officials also confirmed that no soldiers had been hurt.
Hamas rejected Israel's "baseless" claims and called them an "excuse to kill". An official for the Palestinian group added that it was committed to the ceasefire agreement.
IDF soldiers also killed what they called five "terrorists" in two other separate incidents.
Three were shot dead in the Rafah area, while two others were killed after allegedly crossed into Israeli-held areas in northern Gaza and advanced toward soldiers, officials said.
The airstrikes are the second round to be launched this week, after 25 Palestinians were killed in air, drone and artillery attacks on Gaza City and Khan Younis after sunset on Wednesday.
Israel's actions have further strained the fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas, which has been in place since October 10 following a brutal two-year war.
Israel has pulled back its soldiers, but Palestinian health authorities say 316 people have been killed in strikes on Gaza since the peace plan was initiated.
The IDF says it has attacked multiple militants since the ceasefire began and has had three soldiers killed.