Gaza officials say strikes kill 24 after ‘Israel’ says officer wounded

• Deadly Strikes Amid Tenuous Truce: ‘Israeli’ air strikes killed at least 24 people across Gaza on Wednesday, including a paramedic and high-ranking commanders from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, in what the military claimed was retaliation for the serious wounding of an ‘Israeli’ officer.
• Rafah Reopening and Medical Crisis: Despite the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing to patients, hospitals like Al-Shifa report an "extremely difficult" situation due to a severe shortage of medical supplies, as total deaths since the October 10 ceasefire surpassed 550.

Gazan health officials said ‘Israeli’ air strikes on Wednesday killed 24 people, with ‘Israel's’ military claiming the attacks were in response to one of its officers being wounded by enemy gunfire.

Despite an ongoing US-brokered truce entering its second phase last month, violence has continued in the Gaza Strip, with ‘Israel’ and Hamas accusing each other of breaching the agreement.

The latest bloodshed came after ‘Israel’ partly reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the only gateway to the Palestinian territory that does not pass through ‘Israel’.

The Gazan health ministry said that 21 people were killed, including three children, in a series of strikes, with at least 38 others wounded.

The territory's civil defence agency said that two more people were killed and eight injured in a strike on a tent in the centre of the Strip, and another person was killed in a strike that hit a group of civilians west of Gaza City.

The ‘Israeli’ military claimed it had launched strikes after "terrorists opened fire on troops" Wednesday, seriously wounding an officer.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it was "outraged" by the killing of an on-duty paramedic, Hussein Hassan Hussein Al-Samiri, in a bombardment in the southern Al-Mawasi area.

The ‘Israeli’ military claimed one strike in southern Gaza had targeted a Hamas platoon commander named Bilal Abu Assi who led an attack on a kibbutz during the events of October 7, 2023.

The military said its strikes had also killed Ali Raziana, whom it described as the commander of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad's northern Gaza brigade, as well as Hamas's Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, accused of killing an ‘Israeli’ soldier, Noa Marciano, who was taken captive on October 7.

Shortage of medical aid

Mourners were offering prayers in the compound of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, where several bodies wrapped in white shrouds were laid out.

Three bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital after ‘Israeli’ strikes hit homes and tents housing displaced Palestinians in the southern Khan Yunis area, the civil defence agency said.

Fourteen more bodies were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital, its director Mohamed Abu Salmiya said in a statement.

"We also received dozens of wounded. The situation is extremely difficult in the hospitals of the Gaza Strip due to the severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies," Abu Salmiya said.

‘Israel’ scrutinises all aid coming into besieged Gaza.

‘Israel’ on Monday allowed the reopening of the Rafah crossing, reportedly following US pressure, but limited passage to patients and their travel companions.

On Tuesday, 45 people crossed into Egypt and 42 entered the territory, a source at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said.

Gaza's health ministry says at least 556 people have been killed in ‘Israeli’ strikes since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, while the ‘Israeli’ military says four of its soldiers have been killed over the same period.