Gaza Erupts in Violence as Israel Strikes Back Amid Fears of Truce Collapse

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A wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip has left at least 25 Palestinians dead, sparking fears that a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas is on the brink of collapse. The violence began after militants in southern Gaza opened fire on Israeli soldiers, prompting a response from the Israeli military. The airstrikes, which targeted areas in Gaza City and the south, are the second deadliest Israeli attack in the territory since a US-backed ceasefire took effect on October 10. The conflict has been simmering for months, with tensions running high between Israel and Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group that the US and European Union have designated as a terrorist organization. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said that Hamas had failed to meet the terms of the ceasefire, which included the return of the bodies of dead hostages. Iran-backed Hamas, however, claims that more than 300 people have been killed since the truce came into effect and is calling on the US, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar to ensure that Israel observes the peace agreement. The latest surge in violence comes just two days after the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of a US-drafted resolution based on President Donald Trump's 20-article peace plan for Gaza. The plan, which envisions the disarming of Hamas and the establishment of an International Stabilization Force, has been rejected by Hamas and several Palestinian factions. The conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israeli territories, killing 1,200 and abducting 250 people. Israel's retaliatory campaign resulted in the deaths of more than 69,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike killed 13 people in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp, which the IDF said targeted a training compound affiliated with Hamas. The Israeli army has been striking facilities and personnel of Hezbollah, also supported by Iran, in south Lebanon. Israel says the post-truce attacks aim to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities after it lost much of its military might during a war with Israel last year. On Wednesday, the IDF struck several weapons storage facilities belonging to the Lebanese group in southern Lebanon.