Israel kills dozens in Gaza airstrikes despite ceasefire deal | BBC News

Israeli air strikes are continuing in Gaza ahead of the ceasefire agreement and hostage deal with Hamas, which comes into effect on Sunday, subject to the Israeli cabinet's approval.

The strikes killed 73 people overnight following the announcement of the deal, Gaza's Hamas-run civil defence agency reported. Victims include 12 people living in a residential block in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, the health ministry said.

Israel has previously launched air strikes in the run-up to ceasefire arrangements taking effect, most recently in Lebanon, where the capital Beirut suffered heavy bombing hours before a ceasefire came into force in November 2024.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been expected to confirm the ceasefire deal in parliament but his office claimed Hamas has "reneged" on parts of the agreement, prompting a "last-minute crisis".

Two hardline right-wing ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have long threatened to leave Mr Netanyahu’s government coalition if the ceasefire goes ahead.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Jeremy Bowen and Fergal Keane.

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