Just hours after the announcement of a ceasefire deal raised hopes of relief in Gaza, devastating airstrikes shattered the fragile optimism, leaving over 80 dead and hundreds injured.
Residents who had celebrated the news of the agreement now face deep grief and destruction.
"We were happy, it was the best night since October 7," said a Gaza resident to Reuters, recalling the brief moment of joy before tragedy struck. "Suddenly, we heard about the martyrdom of 40 people, including my uncle. The joy turned to sorrow, like an earthquake had hit us."
According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, the strikes, which followed the ceasefire announcement, claimed the lives of 81 people, including 20 children and 25 women. Around 200 others were injured in the attacks, leaving medical facilities overwhelmed. At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, bloodied mortuary stretchers symbolised the devastating human cost.
The strikes targeted densely populated areas, reducing buildings to rubble. Rescuers and residents worked late into the night, using headlights to search for survivors. "A five-story building with over 50 people inside was hit," said an ambulance driver. "The shelling continues, targeting house after house."
The ceasefire deal, brokered by Qatar and the United States, is set to begin on Sunday if approved by Israel’s cabinet. The agreement includes a prisoner and hostage exchange, with 33 hostages expected to be released in the first phase, according to Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, the situation remains dire. Many fear an escalation before the truce takes effect.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack killed 1,210 people in Israel. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has since resulted in over 46,000 deaths, the majority civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
International observers, including Doctors Without Borders, warn that the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. "Last night, there was cheering for 20 minutes, and then it turned into a very bloody night," said Amande Bazerolle, the group’s emergency coordinator.