Israeli air strikes kill at least 27 Palestinians in Gaza, rescue officials say

Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed at least 27 Palestinians, including women and children, according to local authorities. The strikes, which hit areas including Khan Younis and Gaza City, targeted residential buildings, shelters, and what the IDF described as Hamas infrastructure. The Israeli military stated the strikes were in response to Hamas violating the ceasefire agreement brokered in October, claiming eight terrorists were identified exiting an underground infrastructure in Rafah. Hamas condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of the truce and urging the US to take action. Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement since it came into effect last year following the initial Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

After repeatedly denying or downplaying the death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has reportedly accepted the Gaza Health Ministry's estimate of approximately 70,000 deaths. This acknowledgment, made by an Israeli army official to journalists, marks a shift from Israel's previous stance of disputing the figures. As of January 27, 2026, the Gaza Health Ministry estimates at least 71,662 people have been killed, including those who died after the declared ceasefire and from starvation. Thousands more remain missing, presumed buried under rubble. While the Israeli official did not acknowledge the high proportion of civilian deaths, the acceptance of the overall death toll represents a departure from Israel's earlier denials.