A. Rahman
Intense Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed dozens of Palestinians, including children, Palestinian health officials said, in some of the deadliest violence since a ceasefire took effect more than three months ago. The strikes came as Israel prepares to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a critical land route that could offer limited passage for civilians amid ongoing humanitarian strain.
Palestinian health officials reported that at least 27 people were killed, including three children, in targeted strikes on a police station west of Gaza City and in residential areas across the territory. The attacks also hit tents housing displaced families in Khan Younis. Israeli authorities said they targeted commanders and weapons sites belonging to Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad, asserting the operations came after militants breached terms of the ceasefire.
The violence has continued despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025 aimed at halting the long conflict sparked in October 2023. Since that truce began, more than 500 Palestinians have been reported killed in flare-ups of violence and counterstrikes, and the fragile halt in major fighting remains under strain.
The planned reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt represents a major development in the delicate peace process. The crossing, Gaza’s only direct land link to the outside world that does not pass through Israeli territory, has been closed for nearly two years, cutting off vital movement and supplies for millions of residents. Under the phased ceasefire plan, the passage is scheduled to open for limited, coordinated pedestrian travel starting Sunday, with Israeli, Egyptian and European Union monitoring.
Only a restricted number of individuals will be allowed to use the border crossing initially. Priority is expected to be given to medical evacuees, displaced residents who left Gaza earlier in the conflict, and Palestinians with prior security clearance under a process overseen by Israeli and Egyptian authorities. The move is intended to ease humanitarian pressure, though full-scale entry of aid and goods is not yet part of the initial reopening.
The reopening comes amid intense debate over how the ceasefire is being implemented and what conditions will accompany the next phase of the peace plan. Israel has emphasized security concerns, demanding disarmament and other conditions tied to broader political agreements. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with continued military operations and has called for immediate, unrestricted reopening of all crossings.
Local hospitals in Gaza, already strained after years of war and infrastructure destruction, have been overwhelmed by recent casualties. The Rafah crossing’s reopening is seen by many residents and aid groups as a critical step to allow those in need of medical care to exit Gaza and to enable more movement for civilians affected by the fighting.
Summary:
Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 27 Palestinians, including children, on Saturday in some of the deadliest violence since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025. The attacks targeted militant sites and residential areas. At the same time, Israel has announced that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen for limited pedestrian movement on Sunday under a phased ceasefire agreement, allowing some Palestinians to exit or re‑enter Gaza under coordinated supervision.
