ALWAGHT- In less than 24 hours, Israeli forces have killed at least six Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip, even as Tel Aviv begins implementing the initial stage of a recently agreed ceasefire plan.
Palestinian health officials reported that at least six people were killed since Tuesday morning in renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza City and southern parts of the Strip. Five of the victims died in Gaza City’s Shuja'iyya neighborhood after reportedly being struck by an Israeli quadcopter while inspecting their homes. The Israeli military claimed the individuals had crossed the “Yellow Line,” an area from which its forces had allegedly withdrawn under the ceasefire terms.
Another Palestinian was killed near al-Fukhari, east of Khan Yunis, when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of young men, injuring one other. Additional gunfire was reported in the al-Tahlia area of Khan Yunis, while Israeli shelling also hit parts of Jabalia in northern Gaza. These incidents came less than a day after the ceasefire’s first phase was agreed upon, raising concerns about its fragility.
The truce, negotiated between Israel and Hamas, was intended to halt more than two years of war that has devastated Gaza and killed around 68,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children. Condemning the latest attacks, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of violating the agreement and urged mediating parties to hold Tel Aviv accountable to its ceasefire commitments.