DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes overnight in Gaza have killed at least 60 people, including many children, local hospital officials said Wednesday, in what is likely the most serious challenge to the tenuous ceasefire deal in Gaza since it came into force earlier this month.

The development came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to conduct “powerful strikes” over Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the fragile ceasefire. Hamas said in response that that it would delay handing over the body of another hostage.

U.S. President Donald Trump , currently on a trip to Asia, defended the strikes, saying Israel was justified in carrying them out after what he said was an incident in which Hamas killed an Israeli soldier during an exchange of

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