Over 100 Palestinians killed in Gaza airstrikes, South Africa urges Israel to respect truce

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has expressed deep concern and condemned recent airstrikes on Gaza that have killed more than 100 people and injured dozens more.

Dirco called on Israel to respect the truce, protect civilians, and work toward lasting peace in the region.

The South African government said it notes with grave concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered immediate “powerful strikes” on Gaza, claiming that Hamas had violated the truce deal.

The airstrikes have already killed more than 100 Palestinians on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, and injured dozens.

“It is disheartening to note that these developments happened after Israel recently claimed it had resumed enforcing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire following dozens of deadly strikes that killed Palestinians since the Gaza Peace Plan came into effect on 10 October 2025,” Dirco said in a statement.

“The Gaza Peace Plan had brought hope that the ceasefire agreement would hold, that adequate humanitarian assistance would be allowed into Gaza, and that Israel’s military offensive would be halted.”

Dirco called on Israel to adhere to the agreement it signed and to ensure a peaceful resolution to the devastating war in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“South Africa is further concerned that Israel’s actions come days after the International Court of Justice issued a legal opinion which, among other points, confirmed that ‘Israel, as the occupying power, is obliged to act in accordance with the law of occupation, including the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and that any action to protect its security interests must be exercised in good faith and must be consistent with safeguarding the rights and promoting the best interests of the occupied population.’”

Dirco said South Africa reiterates its call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

It also urged full adherence to the ceasefire deal by Israel, saying it is vital for preserving the prospects for lasting peace and ensuring regional security.

IOL News previously reported that Gaza’s civil defence agency told AFP on Wednesday that dozens of Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 50 people in the Palestinian territory, hours after US President Donald Trump said “nothing” would jeopardise the ceasefire agreement he helped broker.

The agency said 22 children were among those killed, along with women and the elderly, and that around 200 people were wounded.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and terrifying,” calling the strikes “a clear and flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”

“The Israeli strikes targeted tents for displaced people, homes and the vicinity of a hospital in the Strip,” he told AFP.

Israel began carrying out airstrikes on Tuesday after accusing Hamas of attacking Israeli troops in Gaza and violating the truce.

While Israel did not specify where its troops were attacked, Hamas said its fighters had “no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah” and reaffirmed its commitment to the US-brokered ceasefire.

The Israeli army said Wednesday that one of its soldiers, 37-year-old Yona Efraim Feldbaum, was killed “during combat in the southern Gaza Strip” a day earlier, and that his family had been informed.

Trump defended Israel’s actions on Wednesday, saying it “should hit back,” but added that “nothing’s going to jeopardise” the truce.

“They killed an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back. And they should hit back,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One during his tour of Asia.

US Vice President JD Vance said earlier that the ceasefire was holding despite the “skirmishes.”

IOL