Hamas has condemned deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which killed at least 23 Palestinians in one of the deadliest days since October's ceasefire, saying the attack proves Israel's campaign of genocide is ongoing.

“This escalation reflects war criminal Netanyahu’s deliberate intent to sabotage the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, particularly with regard to the reopening of the Rafah crossing,” the resistance group said in a statement on Wednesday.

Hamas rejected the assertions made by Israel regarding a shooting event aimed at one of its soldiers in northern Gaza, labeling these claims as “a weak excuse to legitimize ongoing atrocities and aggression against the Palestinian people,” and as “an effort to enforce a lasting environment of oppression and fear in Gaza.”

The movement urged the sponsors and mediators of the ceasefire agreement to firmly oppose the actions of “war criminal Netanyahu.” 

Hamas highlighted that the Israeli prime minister is intentionally attempting to undermine the agreement in order to resume the campaign of killing and starvation in Gaza.

Medical sources said several children were among the casualties on Wednesday, including an 11-year-old girl.

At least 14 people were killed in Israeli shelling on the Tuffah and Zeitoun neighborhoods of Gaza City. Another four were reported dead in an attack on tents sheltering displaced people in the Qizan Abu Rashwan area, south of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

Two more people were killed by Israeli air attacks on the al-Mawasi coastal tent camp. 

Despite the ceasefire, Israel persists in conducting attacks that breach the terms of the agreement.

A landmark genocide case against Israel has opened at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

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