{"id":5558,"date":"2026-02-01T09:35:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T09:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jubaglobal.com\/?p=5558"},"modified":"2026-02-01T09:35:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T09:35:18","slug":"bloodiest-day-since-ceasefire-israeli-strikes-kill-over-30-palestinians-in-gaza-including-children-as-rafah-crossing-reopens-for-limited-aid-and-evacuations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/bloodiest-day-since-ceasefire-israeli-strikes-kill-over-30-palestinians-in-gaza-including-children-as-rafah-crossing-reopens-for-limited-aid-and-evacuations\/","title":{"rendered":"Bloodiest Day Since Ceasefire: Israeli Strikes Kill Over 30 Palestinians in Gaza, Including Children, as Rafah Crossing Reopens for Limited Aid and Evacuations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"1968\" src=\"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/02\/IMG_2565.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/02\/IMG_2565.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/02\/IMG_2565-768x1145.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/02\/IMG_2565-1030x1536.jpeg 1030w, https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/02\/IMG_2565-1024x1527.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1320px) 100vw, 1320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com<\/strong><br><em>February 1, 2026 \u2013 Forest Hills, Michigan (via wire reports from Gaza City, Rafah, Cairo, and Jerusalem)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In one of the deadliest incidents since the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 30\u201332 Palestinians on Saturday, January 31, 2026, including multiple children and women. The attacks struck homes, tent camps for displaced families, an apartment building in Gaza City, and a police station, according to Gaza\u2019s Health Ministry, civil defense rescuers, and hospital officials. The violence unfolded just one day before Israel partially reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt\u2014a long-delayed humanitarian step under the ceasefire agreement\u2014allowing limited movement of people and medical evacuations amid mutual accusations of truce violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gaza health authorities reported that the strikes began early Saturday morning and continued throughout the day, hitting northern and southern parts of the enclave. Key incidents included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An airstrike on a family home in Gaza City that killed three children, their aunt, and grandmother.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A strike on a tent camp in Khan Younis (southern Gaza) that ignited a fire, claiming the lives of seven people from one extended family, including a father, three children, and three grandchildren.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An attack on a police station in Gaza City that killed at least 14 people, including police officers (four of them women) and civilians\/inmates held there, according to Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiya.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gaza Health Ministry and civil defense put the overall toll at 30\u201332 killed and dozens wounded, describing it as one of the highest single-day death counts since the October 10, 2025, ceasefire. Since the truce began, over 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, per ministry records deemed reliable by UN agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Israeli military (IDF) stated that the strikes targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives, weapons sites, and infrastructure in response to what it called a \u201cviolation of the ceasefire agreement\u201d on Friday, January 30. IDF sources reported that eight gunmen emerged from a tunnel in an Israeli-controlled area of eastern Rafah; troops killed three militants and captured one (described as a Hamas commander). The army emphasized that operations were precise and aimed at preventing threats, while denying indiscriminate targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hamas condemned the strikes as a \u201crenewed flagrant violation\u201d of the ceasefire, accusing Israel of escalating aggression despite the truce. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim questioned the viability of peace efforts, stating on X that \u201cwe are dealing with a \u2018Board of War,\u2019 not a \u2018Board of Peace.\u2019\u201d The group called on the United States and mediating nations (including Qatar and Egypt) to pressure Israel to halt attacks. Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of broader violations, including blocking returns to northern Gaza and restricting aid\u2014claims Israel rejects, pointing to alleged Hamas breaches like delayed hostage releases or militant activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rafah Crossing Reopens Amid Hope and Skepticism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bloodshed cast a shadow over a significant positive development: On Sunday, February 1, 2026, Israel began a trial\/pilot operation to partially reopen the Rafah crossing\u2014the Gaza Strip\u2019s main gateway to Egypt\u2014after nearly two years of near-total closure (since Israeli forces seized it in May 2024). The move is the first major step in Phase 2 of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan, aimed at allowing limited civilian movement, medical evacuations, and increased humanitarian access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Israeli defense ministry agency COGAT confirmed the crossing opened for a security trial, with preparations for fuller operations. An Israeli security official told CNN that up to 150 Palestinians per day could exit Gaza (primarily for medical treatment abroad), while only about 50 would be allowed to enter. Ambulances crossed from the Egyptian side on Sunday, and trucks carrying aid lined up for inspection. Full two-way passenger movement is expected to begin Monday, February 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reopening is seen as critical for tens of thousands needing urgent care outside Gaza, where much of the medical infrastructure has been destroyed or overwhelmed. Humanitarian groups have long urged this step, warning of a deepening crisis for the sick and wounded. However, access remains tightly controlled, with Israeli screening and limitations on numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Broader Ceasefire Context and Challenges Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The October 2025 ceasefire\u2014brokered under U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s administration\u2014included phased hostage\/prisoner exchanges, partial Israeli withdrawals, increased aid, and eventual demilitarization\/reconstruction plans. Phase 1 focused on initial releases and aid surges; Phase 2 addresses borders, governance, and longer-term stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet the truce has been repeatedly tested. Both sides have traded violation accusations: Israel cites militant tunnel activity and attacks; Hamas points to ongoing strikes, displacement blocks, and aid restrictions. UN and independent monitors have documented hundreds of post-ceasefire deaths, underscoring the fragility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Rafah\u2019s reopening offers a glimmer of relief for Gaza\u2019s 2+ million residents, Saturday\u2019s strikes serve as a stark reminder that violence persists amid diplomacy. International calls for restraint continue, with mediators urging adherence to the agreement to enable reconstruction and a path toward lasting peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Juba Global News Network will monitor developments at Rafah and any further escalations or responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, PBS News, The New York Times, CNN, NPR, The Guardian, Associated Press, Times of Israel, and Gaza Health Ministry statements.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comFebruary 1, 2026 \u2013 Forest Hills, Michigan (via wire&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[830,643,1,782],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-more-articles","category-news","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5558"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5558\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5560,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5558\/revisions\/5560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}