# Israel Strikes Gaza, Killing Over 30—Mostly Women and Children—After Accusing Hamas of Ceasefire Violation
In a sharp escalation of tensions, Israeli airstrikes on January 31, 2026, killed at least 22 to 32 Palestinians in Gaza, with reports emphasizing that **most victims were women and children**, following Israel’s claim that Hamas breached a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.[1][2][3] The attacks targeted residential areas, tents, shelters, and a police station amid ongoing mutual accusations of truce violations.[1][3]
## Background: Fragile Ceasefire Under Strain
The strikes occurred despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, marking the second phase of a U.S.-mediated agreement aimed at ending the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.[1][2] Violence has persisted almost daily, with Gaza’s Health Ministry—operating under Hamas authority—reporting at least 509 to 520 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the truce began, mostly civilians.[1][3] Israel reports four soldiers killed in suspected militant attacks during the same period.[1]
Israel justified the January 31 operation as a response to a ceasefire breach the previous day in Rafah, southern Gaza, where troops identified eight gunmen emerging from a tunnel.[2] The military stated it killed three fighters, arrested a Hamas commander, and targeted commanders, weapons caches, and manufacturing sites linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.[2] Hamas denied involvement and accused Israel of “serious violations,” urging U.S. mediators to intervene.[1][3]
This incident highlights deeper issues: dozens of Hamas fighters remain trapped in Rafah tunnels since the ceasefire, leading to clashes.[2] Both sides accuse the other of non-compliance, with media access restrictions in Gaza complicating independent verification.[1]
## The Strikes: Targets and Devastating Toll
Gaza’s civil defense agency, under Hamas control, updated the death toll to 22, noting “most of them women and children,” with others trapped under rubble.[1] Palestinian health officials reported higher figures: 30 to 32 killed, including three girls from one family, two women, and six children from two families.[2][3][4] Hospitals like Shifa received bodies from strikes across Gaza, describing it as one of the highest single-day tolls since the ceasefire.[3]
Key targets included:
– **Sheikh Radwan police station in Gaza City**: Killed 7 to 14 people, including police officers, civilians, and inmates (some reports cite four policewomen and five officers).[1][2][3] Rescue teams searched for more under debris.[2]
– **Residential apartments and tents**: Hits in Gaza City and Khan Yunis shelters for displaced people, wounding at least 20.[1][2][3] An AFP journalist confirmed a strike on Al-Mawasi tents housing tens of thousands.[1]
– **Other sites**: A Jabaliya refugee camp strike killed one man; additional apartment and tent attacks in Gaza City and Khan Yunis.[1][3]
Eyewitness accounts underscore the human cost. Samer al-Atbash lamented finding his three young nieces’ bodies in Gaza City rubble: “They say ‘ceasefire’ and all. What did those children do? What did we do?”[2] Gaza Health Ministry director Munir al-Barsh decried the attacks amid shortages of medical supplies.[1]
Casualty figures vary slightly due to ongoing rescues and Hamas-run agencies’ reporting: civil defense at 32, health officials at 30+, hospitals confirming 29-31.[1][2][3][4][6] The United Nations and experts view these records as generally reliable despite biases.[3]
## Broader Context and Ceasefire Progress
Saturday’s violence contrasts with ceasefire milestones. Israel announced reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Sunday for limited humanitarian movement—a key demand and second-phase element.[1][2] This followed recovery of hostage Ran Gvili’s remains earlier that week.[1] However, Israel insists on Hamas disarmament, while Hamas seeks to integrate its 10,000 police into a new U.S.-backed Gaza administration, a proposal Israel opposes.[2]
The war has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents into tents and ruins, with Hamas retaining control over much of the territory.[2] U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan underscores international involvement, but daily deaths erode trust.[2]
## Implications for Peace Efforts
These strikes signal the ceasefire’s fragility, with over 500 Palestinian deaths post-truce dwarfing Israeli losses.[1][3] Hamas labeled the attacks a “renewed flagrant violation,” while Israel’s tunnel encounter justifies its response.[2][3] As Rafah reopens, humanitarian groups stress aid needs, but without addressing tunnels, fighters, and disarmament, escalation risks persist.[1][2]
The international community watches closely. Mediators must enforce compliance to prevent full war resumption. Gaza’s civilians, bearing the brunt—especially women and children—pay the steepest price in this cycle of retaliation.[1][2][3]
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Original source: NPR News – Israel strikes Gaza, killing 19, mostly women and children, after saying Hamas violated deal
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