At least 12 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to hospital officials, marking one of the deadliest days in the territory since a ceasefire was agreed in October.
Medical officials said the casualties included two women and six children from two separate families. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported that a strike killed a mother, three children and another relative. Meanwhile, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said an airstrike hit a tent camp, sparking a fire that killed seven people, including a father, his three children and three grandchildren.
The Hamas-led authorities in Gaza have recorded more than 500 Palestinian deaths from Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began on 10 October. Israel’s military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported strikes.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement following more than two years of war that has devastated Gaza and created a severe humanitarian crisis. Hospital officials also reported that 11 Palestinians were killed in earlier attacks across Gaza on 21 January, including two 13-year-old boys and three journalists.
The latest strikes came just a day before the scheduled reopening of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border — a key route for humanitarian access and medical evacuations. The crossing has largely remained closed since the war began, opening only briefly earlier in 2025 to allow sick and wounded Palestinians to leave for treatment under a previous ceasefire arrangement.
For many Palestinians, Rafah is seen as a critical lifeline, especially as much of Gaza’s medical infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 20,000 people may require urgent medical treatment outside the territory.
Israel has kept the crossing closed since the October ceasefire, saying Hamas must comply with terms related to the return of hostages. Israeli officials recently confirmed that the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be in Gaza, 24-year-old Ran Gvili, were recovered about a week ago. He was killed during the 7 October 2023 attacks, after which his body was taken to Gaza.
According to Israeli officials, the “limited reopening” of the Rafah crossing is in line with a US-backed peace framework. While there may be no cap on the number of people allowed to leave Gaza, Israel is expected to limit the number of people re-entering from Egypt to 150 per day.
Palestinian officials estimate that around 100,000 people have fled Gaza since the conflict began.
