30 civilians killed after Netanyahu orders ‘powerful’ attack on Gaza
Trump says ‘nothing’ will jeopardize Gaza ceasefire, Israel ‘should hit back’ if attacked
Gaza City: In less than three weeks after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect, Israel launched air strikes targeting several locations across Gaza, after both Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the fragile truce. According to Gaza's civil defense service, Israeli military killed at least 30 civilians on Tuesday during the strikes.
The Israeli military claimed that the strikes were carried out in retaliation for an alleged Hamas attack on its troops near Rafah, calling it a violation of the ceasefire. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered “powerful strikes," while Defence Minister Israel Katz described the alleged Hamas assault as “a crossing of a bright red line.”
Hamas, however, denied any involvement, stating that its fighters had “no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah.”
In Washington, US President Donald Trump said that “nothing” would jeopardize the ceasefire, but defended Israel’s right to retaliate. “They killed an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back. And they should hit back,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, maintained that the truce remained intact despite “small skirmishes.”
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least three major air strikes on Tuesday, including one near Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, and another that struck a vehicle, killing five people inside.
Tensions also grew over the hostage handover process, a key element of the ceasefire deal. Under the agreement, Hamas was to return 28 sets of remains and 20 living captives. The group was expected to transfer the body of another Israeli hostage on Tuesday, but delayed the handover, citing Israeli “escalation” as a hindrance to recovery operations.
In a statement, Hamas’s armed wing said it had located the bodies of two hostages but did not indicate when they would be returned. Israeli officials later accused Hamas of deception after forensic tests revealed that the remains handed over earlier belonged to a hostage already repatriated two years ago.
“Hamas dug a hole, placed partial remains inside, covered it with dirt, and handed it over to the Red Cross,” said Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem dismissed the allegation, saying the group was still searching for bodies amid widespread devastation caused by Israel’s two-year offensive. “The movement is determined to hand over the bodies of the Israeli captives as soon as possible once they are located,” he said.
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Veteran Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai passes away at 94
New Delhi (PTI): Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai passed away on Wednesday, her family said. She was 94.
Kidwai passed away at Noida's Metro Hospital early in the morning. She was suffering from age-related ailments, her son-in-law Razi Ur Rehman Kidwai said.
She will be cremated at the graveyard in Nizamuddin around 5 pm, he said.
Kidwai is a former Union minister who held important portfolios in the Rajiv Gandhi government. She has been a member of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at various points in time.
Kidwai has also served as a member of the Congress Working Committee and the party's Central Election Committee in the past.
