Fri Jan 17 18:16:53 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Ceasefire Shattered by Deadly Israeli Strikes, 115 Killed
**GAZA CITY** – A fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been marred by violence, leaving at least 115 Palestinians dead, including 28 children and 31 women, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense agency. The hours following the ceasefire announcement were described as the bloodiest of the past week. Despite the agreement, Israeli airstrikes continued, targeting civilian areas and sparking international condemnation.
The United Nations Human Rights Council strongly denounced the continued bombing, calling it indiscriminate and a violation of the expected calm preceding the ceasefire’s implementation. The Council urged all parties to fully accept the deal, aimed at ending 15 months of brutal conflict that has claimed over 46,500 lives, including thousands of children.
While the Israeli government’s vote on the ceasefire is pending, with potential implementation as early as Sunday, the IDF reported strikes on approximately 50 targets in Gaza on Thursday, citing Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets. The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, outlines a six-week initial phase involving the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Graphic images from Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, captured by NBC News, showed the bodies of four young children among other victims, killed in the final wave of airstrikes. Witnesses reported the children were sleeping when the attacks began.
The international community, including the UN Secretary-General, has expressed cautious optimism about the ceasefire as a crucial first step, but the road to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges and deep-seated historical tensions. The situation remains volatile, leaving the world anxiously awaiting the outcome of the Israeli government’s vote and the fragile ceasefire’s fate.
First Piper 