The Israeli military conducted an airstrike on a mosque in Gaza on Wednesday, alleging that the site was being used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas to store weapons. The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza rejected the accusation, calling it “entirely false” and asserting that Israel was attempting to justify its attacks on religious sites. No casualties were reported from the strike.

According to the Israeli military, warnings were issued in advance to civilians to minimize harm. Local health officials in Gaza confirmed that there were no deaths or injuries from the attack. Eyewitnesses described the explosion as powerful, with one resident near the mosque recounting that the blast “shook the ground.” Photographs of the site showed extensive damage, including rubble and the remains of the mosque’s minaret.

This strike comes amid an escalation of Israeli air raids against Gaza in recent weeks, despite a cease-fire agreement brokered by the United States in October. Israeli officials maintain that the military’s operations are targeting Hamas and its weapons infrastructure. Hamas leaders, however, contend that the ongoing strikes indicate Israel’s intention to violate the terms of the cease-fire.

Since the cease-fire, more than 1,200 people have reportedly died in Gaza, in addition to the over 73,000 killed during the previous war, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The conflict escalated in October 2023 following a Hamas attack on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of 251 hostages by Palestinian militants.

The U.S.-mediated cease-fire led to the release of the remaining hostages but left Israeli forces controlling more than half of Gaza. Israeli military operations have since expanded, confining roughly two million Palestinians to a narrowing coastal strip. The conflict has produced a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, food shortages, and limited access to essential goods. While some Israeli reports cite an improvement in the humanitarian situation since the cease-fire, aid organizations highlight ongoing difficulties in obtaining supplies and rising food costs.

The Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza called for Hamas to disarm as a condition of ceding administrative control. While Hamas has agreed to relinquish governance responsibilities, it has refused to give up its weapons. Earlier this month, Major General Tamir Yadai, Israel’s deputy chief of staff, indicated that military operations would persist until Hamas was disarmed, stating, “At the end of the day, this place will be demilitarized and there will be no Hamas.”