Israeli airstrikes late Tuesday killed at least 104 Palestinians and wounded more than 250 others across the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which said the dead included 46 children and 20 women.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted “dozens of terror sites” following what it described as Hamas violations of the U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement. The military claimed to have hit militant command centres and eliminated at least 30 armed group commanders.

Witnesses reported heavy explosions in Gaza City, Beit Lahia, Bureij, Nuseirat, and Khan Younis, with “pillars of fire and smoke” rising over several neighbourhoods. Access to many areas remained restricted on Wednesday, making it difficult to independently verify the death toll or extent of the destruction.

The renewed violence erupted after an attack that killed an Israeli reservist, Master Sgt. Yona Efraim Feldbaum, near Rafah. Israeli officials said Feldbaum was struck when an engineering vehicle dismantling a tunnel was hit by an explosive, followed by anti-tank missile fire on another armoured vehicle.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “forceful strikes” in response, while Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of crossing “a bright red line.”

Hamas denied involvement in the Rafah attack and condemned the airstrikes, saying it remained committed to the truce. The group’s military wing also said it had postponed the return of a recovered Israeli hostage’s body, accusing Israel of breaching the cease-fire terms.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed it had attended what it called a “recovery operation” in good faith but later criticised Israel for what it described as a “staged” or “fake” recovery video.

From Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to preserve the truce but said Israel had the right to “hit back” when its soldiers were attacked. “Nothing should jeopardise the cease-fire,” he said while speaking aboard Air Force One.

The cease-fire, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, took effect on October 10 and called for an initial exchange of hostages and detainees.

Gaza’s health ministry says more than 68,600 people have been killed in the conflict so far, including over 200 since the cease-fire began.