Shafaq News – Middle East (Updated at 21:45)

Two people were killed and several others, including children, wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the al-Sabra neighborhood in southern Gaza City, Gaza’s Civil Defense said on Tuesday.

According to local media, Israeli warplanes also struck multiple locations across the Strip, targeting western Gaza City, the vicinity of al-Shifa Medical Complex, and the al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east, among other areas.

The strikes followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive ordering “forceful” attacks on the Gaza Strip, after Israel confirmed that remains returned from Gaza belonged to fallen “hostage” Ofir Tzarfati—an act he described as “a clear violation of the agreement by the Hamas terrorist organization.”

Israeli outlets also reported plans to expand Israel’s control inside Gaza “as punishment for Hamas,” while Axios quoted a US official saying Washington does not consider Hamas’ actions a breach of the agreement.

In response, Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, postponed the planned handover of an Israeli captive’s body, warning that any escalation would hinder recovery operations for Israeli soldiers’ remains.