Hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza were dashed on Thursday morning as renewed Israeli airstrikes devastated communities, leaving scores dead and hundreds injured just hours after a “fragile ceasefire deal” was announced by Qatar and the United States.
The ceasefire, set to commence on Sunday, had initially sparked celebrations in the war-torn enclave.
Saeed Alloush, a Gaza resident, described the heartbreak: “We were waiting for the truce and were happy. It was the happiest night since October 7.
Suddenly… we received the news of the martyrdom of 40 people,” including his uncle. “The whole area’s joy turned to sadness as if an earthquake struck.”
The destruction was evident on both sides of the border. In northern Gaza, residents searched through rubble as plumes of smoke rose from collapsed buildings. On the Israeli side, military vehicles navigated through debris-strewn streets, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict.
Gaza’s civil defense spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, reported at least 73 deaths from airstrikes since the ceasefire announcement, including 20 children and 25 women, with around 200 wounded. Hospitals, already overwhelmed, struggled to accommodate the influx of casualties.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, blood-stained stretchers bore the weight of the tragedy, while families at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City mourned their dead.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly amid the chaos. Ibrahim Abu al-Rish, a first responder, described a scene of horror: “After the ceasefire was announced and people were happy and joyful, a five-storey building was targeted, with more than 50 people inside.”
Using headlights, rescuers continued to search for survivors late into the night.
Residents of the Al-Bureij refugee camp reported unrelenting threats.
Mahmud al-Qarnawi said, “The shooting has not stopped, the planes are still in the air, and the situation is difficult.”
Another displaced resident, Motaz Bakeer, expressed fears of escalating violence: “For the next three days, we are afraid of a bloodbath worse than before.”
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) highlighted the precariousness of the situation.
“Last night it was a lot of cheering for 20 minutes, and then it was a very bloody night,” said Amande Bazerolle, an emergency coordinator.
While the Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the ceasefire, tensions remain high, with accusations of backtracking on terms.
Mediators Qatar and the United States have emphasized the agreement’s inclusion of a prisoner and hostage exchange.
The ongoing war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in catastrophic loss. The Hamas-run health ministry reports 46,788 deaths in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes—a toll largely corroborated by the United Nations.
If implemented, the ceasefire may offer a brief respite, but many fear it will do little to address the enduring devastation of the conflict.