Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday night killed at least 104 Palestinians and wounded more than 250, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said Wednesday.
Israel Defense Forces said it struck “dozens of terror targets” in response to what it described as violations of the U.S.-brokered cease-fire.
The health ministry said the dead included 46 children and 20 women.
The toll could not be independently verified because access to many affected areas was restricted and communications were limited. Witnesses described explosions and “pillars of fire and smoke” in Gaza City, Beit Lahia, Bureij, Nuseirat and Khan Younis.
Israel’s military said the strikes targeted militants and command centres and that at least 30 commanders of armed groups were hit.
In a morning statement the IDF said it had “begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” and warned it would respond firmly to any violations.
The outbreak of violence followed an attack that killed an Israeli reservist, Master Sgt. Yona Efraim Feldbaum, the military said.
Israeli officials said the soldier was killed near Rafah when a vehicle of an engineering team dismantling a tunnel was hit; anti-tank missiles were later fired at another armoured vehicle.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “forceful strikes,” and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Hamas had crossed “a bright red line.”
Hamas denied involvement in the attack and condemned the strikes, saying it remained committed to the cease-fire.
The group’s military wing said it had postponed the return of a recovered hostage’s body, alleging Israeli “violations.” The International Committee of the Red Cross said it attended what it called a “recovery” in good faith and later condemned a staged or “fake” recovery shown in footage released by Israel.
President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, urged parties to preserve the truce while saying Israel should “hit back” when soldiers are targeted and that “nothing” would jeopardise the cease-fire.
The cease-fire, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, took effect Oct. 10 and called for an initial exchange of hostages and detainees.
Gaza health authorities say more than 68,600 people have died in the conflict to date, including more than 200 since the cease-fire began.
