Israel launches new wave of strikes on Gaza
Shafaq News – Gaza (updated at 18:34)
On Thursday, Israeli artillery and warplanes carried out a new round of bombardment targeting Gaza Strip.
The strikes included at least ten air raids on neighborhoods east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, coinciding with artillery shelling near the eastern outskirts of Gaza City. Witnesses said Israeli forces also demolished several buildings in eastern Khan Younis.
No information yet regarding casualties and damage extent.
The latest escalation follows the October 28 incident in Rafah, where Israel said a soldier was killed in an attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “immediate and forceful strikes” across Gaza.
Air raids hit Gaza City, Khan Younis, and areas near hospitals, killing dozens, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Hamas denied involvement and accused Israel of violating the US-brokered ceasefire, which both sides said remained officially in place.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported yesterday that 104 people were killed and 253 others injured in Israeli strikes since the escalation began on October 28, including 46 children and 20 women among the dead. Since the October 11 ceasefire, the ministry recorded a total of 211 deaths and 597 injuries.
Meanwhile, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced that as part of the prisoner exchange deal, it will hand over the bodies of two Israeli captives.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), two coffins containing the deceased hostages have been transferred into its custody and are now en route to Israeli forces in Gaza. The organization said the process is being conducted under humanitarian coordination.
🟡 According to information provided by the Red Cross, two coffins of deceased hostages have been transferred into their custody and are on their way to IDF troops in Gaza. Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 30, 2025
Before the ceasefire, 20 living Israeli hostages were believed to remain in Hamas custody in Gaza—part of the original 251 people abducted. 13 deceased hostages are also thought to still be held in the Strip.
The release of hostages is a key component of the US-brokered agreement, which outlines a phased exchange involving Israeli captives held by Hamas in return for Palestinian detainees, alongside commitments to halt military operations and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
