Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 71 people across Gaza, including individuals seeking aid, according to health officials. Among the targets struck was a school in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood that had been sheltering displaced Palestinians. The attack left the building in ruins and further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Donald Trump has warned Israel against launching further attacks on Iran, hours after announcing a ceasefire between the two sides. The US president used stern language as he criticized both sides, following accusations from each of breaking the US and Qatar-brokered truce. This came after Israel claimed Iran had violated the deal and vowed to respond with “powerful strikes.” Iran denied firing any missiles towards Israel and its top security body vowed to respond to further aggression.
Just after 05:00 GMT on Tuesday, Trump announced that the ceasefire had taken effect. Please do not violate it!” he urged both sides in a post on his Truth Social platform. The Israeli government said it agreed to the US ceasefire proposal just after 06:00 GMT on Tuesday, following Iran’s indication that it would stop attacks if Israel did the same.
However, hours later, Israel accused Iran of launching further attacks on its territory. In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged Israel, “do not drop those bombs” on Iran. Speaking to reporters outside the White House shortly afterwards, Trump expressed his displeasure with Israel.
“There was one rocket that I guess was fired overboard after the time limit and now Israel is going out. These guys [have] got to calm down,” he said.
Trump urges restraint amid ceasefire
In a later post, he confirmed, “The ceasefire is in effect.”
Two hours after Israel said it had agreed to the truce, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have identified missiles launched from Iran. Israel accused Iran of a “complete violation” of the terms and instructed the military to “continue the intense activity of attacking Tehran to thwart regime targets and terrorist infrastructures.” The Iranian military denied firing missiles after the ceasefire had taken effect. The Israeli prime minister’s office accused Iran of launching missiles toward its territory after the truce came into force on Tuesday, which Iran has denied.
Israel’s military responded by striking a “radar array near Tehran.” Prior to the truce, heavy fire was exchanged between the two nations. The IDF reported that several rounds of strikes hit Iran Monday night into Tuesday. Iranian state media mentioned that Iran launched “a last round of missiles” against Israel.
Israel initiated attacks on nuclear and military sites in Iran on Friday, 13 June, claiming Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon. Israel insisted that it had no choice but to bomb Iran after diplomatic talks aimed at curbing the country’s nuclear programme stalled. The offensive took place amid growing international concern that Iran had increased its production of enriched uranium – a key component for nuclear weapons.
The US later joined the strikes, targeting Iran’s Fordo nuclear enrichment facility. Iran asserts it is operating a peaceful nuclear programme for civilian purposes. However, the UN nuclear watchdog recently warned that Iran had enriched over 400 kg of uranium to 60% purity – near weapons-grade and well above civilian use levels.
US officials claim recent US-Israel strikes have significantly set back Tehran’s potential to build a nuclear weapon. Despite the strikes, Iranian sources suggested critical materials were evacuated from targeted sites in time.
