Israeli artillery bombarded several locations across the Gaza Strip early Saturday, while ground forces carried out large-scale demolition operations targeting buildings east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, according to eyewitnesses and local reports.
The shelling targeted multiple sites east of Gaza City and east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reported, citing residents who described heavy bombardment in those areas. In Khan Younis, Israeli troops demolished homes and structures, causing a massive explosion that was reportedly audible across wide swathes of the enclave.
Israeli naval vessels also fired toward the coastal areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, while an Israeli helicopter opened fire overhead in Rafah.
The incidents are described as part of ongoing daily violations of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10. The truce, which paused Israel’s large-scale military offensive launched in October 2023, entered its second phase in January following a US announcement. That phase includes further Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza and the initiation of reconstruction efforts.
The United Nations has estimated that rebuilding Gaza’s devastated infrastructure will cost approximately $70 billion.
The 15-month offensive prior to the ceasefire killed nearly 72,000 Palestinians and injured more than 171,000 others, while destroying around 90% of the enclave’s buildings, homes, hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure, according to Gaza authorities and international assessments.
Since the ceasefire began, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli actions have continued to claim lives, killing 574 Palestinians and wounding 1,518 others in violation of the agreement.
The repeated breaches have raised concerns about the stability of the truce and the prospects for meaningful reconstruction and humanitarian recovery in Gaza.
