Hamas has accused Israel of unleashing “horrific massacres” in Gaza in an alleged attempt to disrupt a ceasefire agreement in the enclave. The ceasefire agreement, announced on Wednesday and expected to come into effect on Sunday, was met with a surge in violence according to the Palestinian militant group.
Following the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Qatari capital Doha, Hamas claimed that Israel initiated a “deliberate intensification” of aerial attacks. Since the deal was made public, at least 111 Palestinians, including 28 children and 31 women, have lost their lives. Additionally, more than 264 individuals have been reported injured, as stated by Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense.
In a statement released on Friday, Hamas accused Israel of intentionally committing these massacres to obstruct the ceasefire agreement. The group called on mediators to exert pressure on Israel to halt the ongoing violence and “stop the massacres” in Gaza.
Israeli forces have carried out heavy and intense bombardments in central and northern Gaza over the past day. The Israeli military confirmed that it had conducted strikes on approximately 50 terror targets across the Gaza Strip. Thursday marked the deadliest day in Gaza in 11 days, with a significant increase in casualties.
