Israeli Strikes Kill 30 Palestinians

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 30 Palestinians, including children, on Saturday, marking one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire. The strikes hit an apartment building in Gaza City, a tent camp in Khan Younis, and a police station, causing numerous casualties and destruction. Israel stated these strikes were in response to ceasefire violations by Hamas, which in turn condemned Israel's actions as a 'flagrant violation.' Mediators like Egypt and Qatar also condemned the strikes, warning of threats to the peace process. These events occurred just before the State of Palestine — Rafah crossing, a critical border point with Egypt, was set to open, a key step in the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The ongoing violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the challenges in demilitarizing the Gaza Strip and establishing a new government for reconstruction.