**New Strikes Hit Gaza as Israel Promises to Fight “in Full Strength”**
Israel launched new airstrikes on Gaza overnight, killing at least two civilians and injuring five others. The strikes were aimed at a Hamas site, which the Israeli army said was preparing to launch a rocket attack on Israel.
According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, a drone strike hit a tent in the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, causing the casualties. The Israeli army claimed that it had targeted a Hamas facility, but the agency reported that the victims were all civilians.
**UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis**
The United Nations has condemned the new strikes as a blatant violation of the fragile ceasefire agreement reached on January 19. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, said that the intensity of the killings was “off the scale” and that the people were gripped by fear.
**Ceasefire Deal in Jeopardy**
The ceasefire deal had three stages, but negotiations for the second stage were supposed to begin six weeks ago. Instead, Israel and Hamas failed to agree on how to proceed, leading to a prolongation of the first phase. The UN has called for an end to the blockade and for the release of hostages.
**Death Toll Continues to Rise**
The death toll from Tuesday’s strikes was over 400 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The new strikes have added to that number, with reports of several more casualties. Gaza’s health ministry has yet to give a final death toll.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
