Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill more than 80 after announcement of ceasefire

Despite an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire which is set to begin on Sunday, Israel conducted another airstrike on Thursday, killing a total of 86 Palestinians.

Lee Seung-jae has more.

Many rejoiced at the news of a six-week ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

But just days before the deal is implemented on Sunday, Israel conducted more airstrikes in Gaza, killing at least three more Gazans, and raising the death toll to 86 since the news of the ceasefire agreement.

According to Gaza's Civil Defense Service, the death toll includes 23 children and 27 women.

During the same period, more than 250 Palestinians have also been injured in airstrikes across Gaza.

Israel's Cabinet was set to vote on the ceasefire deal on Thursday, but the vote did not take place with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blaming a last-minute disagreement with Hamas for the delay.

The prime minister's office said the militant group is reneging on parts of the agreement in order to gain further concessions.

It accused Hamas of "backing out of the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that prevents a settlement."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the deal will start on time despite what he called a last-minute "loose end."

"On the ceasefire, yes, I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation would begin, as we said, on Sunday. Look, it's not exactly surprising that in a process, in a negotiation, that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end. We are tying up that loose end as we speak."

Following the ceasefire agreement, the European Union on Thursday pledged 120 million euros,.. or over 123 million U.S. dollars in aid for Palestine.

According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X, the "ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope the region desperately needed," but added that Gaza's "humanitarian situation remains grim."

The aid will provide assistance to address acute food insecurity and malnutrition, healthcare assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene support,. shelter and protection assistance.

The latest humanitarian assistance to Gaza from the bloc brings the total to over 460 million US dollars since 2023.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.