Donald Trump has defended Israel’s deadly strikes in Gaza overnight, saying it has the right to “hit back” against Hamas.
Palestinian health officials say the death toll from the strikes has soared to 104, with earlier tallies suggesting dozens of children were among those killed.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had ordered the immediate “powerful attacks” after Hamas attacked Israeli forces in an area of the strip under Israeli control. He said later on Wednesday that a fragile US-brokered ceasefire – which came into effect on 10 October – has now resumed.
Trump, who is in South Korea, insisted his ceasefire remained in tact and that "nothing is going to jeopardise" it. He has repeatedly touted “peace in the Middle East” as one of his achievements during speeches on his tour of Asia.
He defended Netanyahu's actions, saying: "They took out, they killed an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back," he added.
Trump warned: “If Hamas does not behave, they will be terminated.”
Key points
- Gaza health ministry says death toll from Israeli strikes is now 104
- Trump says Israel has right to 'hit back' after alleged Hamas ceasefire violation
- Israeli military says soldier killed during combat in southern Gaza
- Red Cross says it's 'unacceptable' that fake recovery was staged by Hamas
- Hamas will 'pay a heavy price', says Israeli defence minister
Red Cross 'unaware' hostage remains were planted
10:52 , Adam WithnallThe Red Cross has responded to Israel’s allegations that Hamas planted hostage remains at a site in Gaza to create a "false impression of efforts to locate bodies".
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said human remains handed over on Monday night belonged to an Israeli killed during Hamas' October 7 attack, whose body was recovered by Israeli forces in the early weeks of fighting.
The Israeli military said that Hamas had planted the remains at an excavation site before calling in a Red Cross team and pretending it had found a missing hostage.
A 14-minute video published by the military showed three men placing a white bag at an excavation site and then covering it with earth and rocks.
The ICRC said its team was unaware that the remains had been planted at the site before their arrival.
"It is unacceptable that a fake recovery was staged, when so much depends on this agreement being upheld and when so many families are still anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones," the ICRC said in a statement.
Netanyahu fury as Hamas sends ‘additional’ remains of dead hostage already returned in ‘violation of ceasefire’
10:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael accused Hamas of breaching the fragile ceasefire agreement on Tuesday after it received the “additional remains” of a hostage already retrieved in 2023.
Remains transferred from Gaza overnight were identified as those of hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who was killed during Hamas’s October 7 attack, and whose remains were recovered by Israeli forces at the start of the war.
Hamas is expected to return the remains of 13 hostages still held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire arrangement.
The prime minister’s office said the transfer was a “clear violation” of the agreement, increasingly under strain over the return of hostage bodies.
More here.
Israel accuses Hamas of returning ‘additional remains’ of hostage already retrieved
Turkey condemns Israel's attack on Gaza
10:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the Israeli military's renewed attack on Gaza, which has killed at least 104 Palestinians, including two dozen children.
The ministry said Ankara expressed profound concern about civilian casualties and called for immediate adherence to the truce terms.
The ministry characterised Israel's attacks as constituting "a clear violation of the ceasefire" that was brokered by Donald Trump about three weeks ago.
Death toll from Israeli strikes soars to 104, according to Gaza health ministry
09:48 , Adam WithnallGaza’s health ministry says the death toll from Israel’s overnight strikes has risen to 104.
It is now by far the most deadly incident since a fragile US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on 10 October.
We’re awaiting more details on that 104 figure. Earlier, Palestinian health officials said the toll included large numbers of children.
King of Jordan says Arab nations won't enforce ceasefire in Gaza
09:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarArab states will object if they are asked to “enforce” a ceasefire under Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, King Abdullah of Jordan has said.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that President Trump’s peace plan in Gaza would involve an international force of 5,000 soldiers, which he hoped could be deployed quickly.
But in an interview with BBC Panorama, King Abdullah questioned what role international troops would play in the Strip - and whether it would be peacekeeping or an alignment with the Israeli military.
More here.
King of Jordan says Arab nations will object to ‘enforcing’ ceasefire in Gaza
Israeli strikes overnight in Gaza kill at least 60 people
09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli strikes overnight in Gaza have killed at least 60 people, including many children, local hospital officials said Wednesday.
The strikes come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to conduct “powerful strikes” over Gaza after Hamas had violated the fragile ceasefire.
The Aqsa Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah said at least 10 bodies, among three women and six children, reached the hospital overnight after two Israeli airstrikes there. In southern Gaza, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 20 bodies after five Israeli strikes in the area, of which 13 were children and two were women.
More here.
Israeli strikes overnight in Gaza kill at least 60 people, including children, local officials say
Aftermath of Israel's renewed attack on Gaza
08:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Netanyahu orders Israeli military to carry out strikes on Gaza immediately
08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to immediately carry out "powerful" attacks in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu made the announcement shortly after Israel said that Hamas had opened fire at Israeli forces in southern Gaza.
Tensions were already high after Israel accused Hamas of breaching the fragile ceasefire agreement by handing back the additional remains of hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who had already been recovered and buried in 2023.
The prime minister’s office said the transfer was a “clear violation” of the agreement, increasingly under strain over the return of hostage bodies.
Netanyahu subsequently held a security assessment with defence officials to discuss a response.
More here.
Netanyahu orders Israeli military to carry out strikes on Gaza immediately
Israel strikes kill 60 Palestinians
06:52 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli strikes overnight in Gaza have killed at least 60 people, including many children, local hospital officials said this morning.
The strikes come after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to conduct "powerful strikes" over Gaza after Hamas had violated the fragile ceasefire.
The Aqsa Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah said at least 10 bodies, including three women and six children, reached the hospital overnight after two Israeli airstrikes.
In southern Gaza, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 20 bodies after five Israeli strikes in the area, of which 13 were children and two were women.
In central Gaza, the Al-Awda Hospital said it received 30 bodies, of which 14 were children.
New Zealand deploys liaison officer to Israel
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarNew Zealand has deployed a defence force officer to Israel to report back on the progress made towards the US-brokered peace deal in Gaza.
Defence minister Judith Collins told reporters that the liaison officer will work from a US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre, at least for the first six weeks.
"The deployment will improve New Zealand's understanding of co-ordination efforts on the ground and enable us to better assess options for any potential future contributions to the centre or other initiatives in support of sustained peace in Gaza," she said.
Ben & Jerry's co-founder creating new ice cream to support Palestine
05:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBen Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, said he was creating a new flavour of ice cream to support Palestine after its parent company prevented him from doing so.
Cohen, 74, who co-founded the ice cream brand in 1978 with Jerry Greenfield, said in an Instagram post that the brand’s parent company, Unilever/Magnum, had blocked them from creating the watermelon flavour.
He said: "A while back, Ben & Jerry’s tried to make a flavor to call for peace in Palestine - to stand for justice and dignity for everyone…but they weren't allowed to.
“They were stopped by Unilever/ Magnum...just like when Ben & Jerry’s tried to stop selling ice cream in the occupied territories, they were blocked again by their parent company," he added.
Death toll rises to 63 – report
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAt least 63 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's attack on Gaza, Al Jazeera is reporting this morning.
The broadcaster has attributed the new toll to medical sources and said it included 24 children.
It said the dead include three people who were sheltering in a school in Beit Lahiya and another three in tents for displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi.
Israel says it informed US of planned Gaza strikes
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael says it notified Donald Trump’s administration of its decision to carry out strikes in Gaza City in response to Hamas's alleged ceasefire violations.
However, Washington was informed only after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the orders to his military to conduct the strikes on Gaza.
“The prime minister made the decision to carry out the strike, gave the order to the military to execute it and afterward informed the United States,” the prime minister's office told The Times of Israel.
An Israeli official added that "there were talks with the Americans" regarding Israel’s planned response before the strikes were carried out.
Netanyahu fury as Hamas sends ‘additional’ remains of dead hostage already returned
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael accused Hamas of breaching the fragile ceasefire agreement on Tuesday after it received the “additional remains” of a hostage already retrieved in 2023.
Remains transferred from Gaza overnight were identified as those of hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who was killed during Hamas’s October 7 attack, and whose remains were recovered by Israeli forces at the start of the war.
Hamas is expected to return the remains of 13 hostages still held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire arrangement.
James C. Reynolds reports.
Israel accuses Hamas of returning ‘additional remains’ of hostage already retrieved
Israeli military says soldier killed during combat in southern Gaza
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military today claimed that a soldier was killed during fighting in southern Gaza, as Israeli planes have struck targets in the strip.
Israel launched a fresh attack on Gaza last night following accusations that Hamas had violated a ceasefire, the latest test of a fragile deal brokered earlier this month by US president Donald Trump.
Israel attack on Gaza kills over 30
04:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Hamas's military wing 'retrieves' bodies of two Israeli hostages
04:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Al-Qassam Brigades, or the military wing of Hamas, has announced that it managed to retrieve the bodies of two Israeli hostages.
The group said the remains of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch were recovered during a search operation last night.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has agreed to hand over the remains of all dead hostages yet to be recovered, but has said it will take time to locate and retrieve the bodies amid Gaza's ruins.
Israel says the militant group can access the remains of most of the hostages.
Over 30 killed in Israel's attack on Gaza
03:42 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAt least 30 people were killed and dozens suffered injuries after Israel launched a new attack last night in a potential violation of a truce brokered by the US about three weeks ago.
Israeli planes launched strikes in Gaza after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of violating a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
"At least 30 killed and dozens of wounded as a result of the Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, and our crews are still working to recover the dead and wounded from under the rubble,” Mahmud Basal, a spokesperson for the Hamas-run civil defense agency, told AFP.
Hamas dismisses Israel's allegations
03:38 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHamas has denied responsibility for an attack on Israeli forces in Rafah, calling the allegations "baseless and aimed at misleading public opinion".
The group said: "The occupation is seeking to fabricate false pretexts in preparation for taking new aggressive steps against our people, in blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement."
Hamas added that it remained committed to the ceasefire deal in Gaza.
JD Vance says the ceasefire is still holding as Israel attacks Gaza
03:20 , Harriette BoucherUS Vice President JD Vance said the ceasefire is still holding despite Israel’s attacks on Gaza on Tuesday.
"The ceasefire is holding. That doesn't mean that there aren't going to be little skirmishes here and there," he told reporters.
"We know that Hamas or somebody else within Gaza attacked an (Israeli military) soldier.
“We expect the Israelis are going to respond, but I think the President's peace is going to hold despite that."
Military officials accused Hamas of opening fire on Israeli troops on Tuesday, which prompted its attack.
Hamas has denied any involvement.
'IDF will respond' to Hamas with great force, says defence minister
03:00 , Harriette BoucherIsraeli defence minister, Israel Katz, said Hamas “will pay a heavy price” for attacking IDF soldiers in Rafah on Tuesday, and for “violating the agreement to return the fallen hostages.”
"The attack on IDF soldiers in Gaza today by the Hamas terrorist organisation is crossing a bright red line to which the IDF will respond with great force.
"Hamas will pay with compound interest for attacking the soldiers and violating the agreement to return the fallen hostages," Katz says.
Hamas said it has no connection to the attack.
An Israeli military official said Israeli troops returned fire after being shot at in the southern city of Rafah.
Trump says Israel has right to 'hit back'
02:59 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump said this morning that the Gaza ceasefire was not at risk of being jeopardised after deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza that local authorities said killed at least 26 people.
"Nothing is going to jeopardise" the ceasefire in Gaza, Mr Trump said in South Korea.
"They took out, they killed an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back," he added.
Hamas accused of breaching ceasefire agreement
02:00 , Harriette BoucherIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered military to carry out “powerful” attacks on Gaza shortly after Israeli officials accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement.
Earlier today, Israel said Hamas opened fire on troops in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is under Israeli control. Hamas has denied any connection to the attack.
Netanyahu also accused Hamas of breaching the deal after it returned the additional remains of hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who had already been recovered and buried in 2023.
Explosions seen over Gaza night sky, after Netanyahu said he ordered 'powerful strikes'
01:00 , Harriette BoucherDeath toll reaches 19 in Gaza
00:08 , Harriette BoucherAt least 19 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s strikes, according to local health authorities.
The death toll includes four people who were killed in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood and five in a car in Khan Younis.
In pictures: Dozens of Gazans injured as Israel launches airstrikes
00:04 , Harriette Boucher
Recap: Israel launches attack on Gaza after accusing Hamas of breaching ceasefire
Tuesday 28 October 2025 23:00 , Harriette BoucherIsrael launched an attack on Gaza on Tuesday evening after it accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal.
Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his military to carry out the strikes shortly after Israeli officials condemned Hamas for opening fire on troops in southern Gaza. Hamas has refuted having any involvement.
The attacks also come after Hamas handed over the additional remains of a hostage returned in 2023.
At least nine people have died in the strikes, including four in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood and five in a car targeted in Khan Younis.
Red Cross says it's 'unacceptable' that fake recovery was staged by Hamas
Tuesday 28 October 2025 22:24 , Harriette BoucherThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has condemned Hamas for allegedly staging the recovery of a hostage’s body after Israel released footage that claims to show Hamas burying the body in the ground before calling in ICRC teams.
ICRC said it was "not aware that a deceased person had been placed there prior to their arrival, as seen in the footage”.
It added in a statement: "Our role as neutral intermediary does not include unearthing of the bodies of the deceased. Our team only observed what appeared to be the recovery of remains without prior knowledge of the circumstances leading up to it.
"It is unacceptable that a fake recovery was staged, when so much depends on this agreement being upheld and when so many families are still anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.”
Hamas has called the allegations “baseless”.
Death toll reaches nine
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:56 , Jane DaltonThe number of people killed has risen to nine, according to local Palestinian health authorities.
The toll included four people in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood and five in a car targeted in Khan Younis.
Hamas handed over coffin containing additional remains of hostage
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:35 , Harriette BoucherIsrael’s attack on Gaza comes a day after Hamas was meant to hand over a hostage, but instead returned a coffin containing the additional remains of a hostage returned in 2023.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas breached the ceasefire deal after it returned further remains of Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage who was recovered and buried in 2023.
Officials have accused the group of purposefully delaying the handover, but Hamas say the bodies are difficult to locate amid the rubble.
Hamas kidnapped Mr Tzarfati at the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023, and he later died in captivity.
In a statement, Mr Tzarfati's family said this was the third time "we have been forced to open Ofir's grave and rebury our son".
In pictures: Explosions seen over Gaza skyline after Netanyahu ordered ‘powerful strikes’
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:10 , Harriette Boucher
Hamas delays return of hostage amid strikes
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:45 , Harriette BoucherHamas delayed the hand over of another hostage on Tuesday after Israel revealed its plans to strike Gaza.
Hamas's armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the postponement, citing what it said were Israel’s violations of the ceasefire.
The body was said to have been recovered from a tunnel on Tuesday.
A white body bag was witnessed being carried out from a tunnel by several men, including some masked militants in Khan Younis.
It was not immediately clear what was in the bag, which was then transported into an ambulance.
Israel has accused Hamas of intentionally putting the body in soil and excavating it.
Eight dead in strikes on Gaza
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:25 , Harriette BoucherAt least eight people have been killed in Israel’s strikes on Tuesday, according to local health authorities.
Three people are said to have died in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood and five people in a car which was targeted in Khan Younis.
Dozens are said to have been injured in airstrikes which have hit homes and a courtyard of Shifa Hospital, the largest operational hospital in northern Gaza, along with other areas in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis have also been struck.
JD Vance says the ceasefire is still holding as Israel attacks Gaza
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:00 , Harriette BoucherUS Vice President JD Vance said the ceasefire is still holding despite Israel’s attacks on Gaza on Tuesday.
"The ceasefire is holding. That doesn't mean that there aren't going to be little skirmishes here and there," he told reporters.
"We know that Hamas or somebody else within Gaza attacked an (Israeli military) soldier.
“We expect the Israelis are going to respond, but I think the President's peace is going to hold despite that."
Military officials accused Hamas of opening fire on Israeli troops on Tuesday, which prompted its attack.
Hamas has denied any involvement.
Three Palestinians killed in attacks, according to Hamas's Civil Defence
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:50 , Harriette BoucherThree Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Tuesday, a spokesman for Hamas’s Civil Defence told the BBC.
Dozens have reportedly been injured in a series of airstrikes that have hit homes and a courtyard of Shifa Hospital, the largest operational hospital in northern Gaza. Various other areas in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis have also been struck.
US was told about Israeli strikes beforehand, officials say
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:19 , Harriette BoucherIsrael notified the US before it launched its latest strikes on Gaza, two US officials told the Associated Press.
Donald Trump said on Saturday he would be watching Hamas’ return of the deceased hostages “very closely” over the following days.
He is yet to comment on Tuesday’s strikes.
