Israeli military strikes in Gaza City on Friday killed six Palestinians, including a baby, who were sheltering in a school, according to hospital officials. The deaths bring the total number of Palestinians killed by Israel since the October ceasefire to 401.
Gaza Ceasefire Challenged by Renewed Violence
Israeli troops fired across the ceasefire line – a demarcation established under the October agreement – resulting in the deaths and injuries to additional Palestinians, the Palestinian civil defence stated. Recovery of the bodies required coordination with the United Nations to avoid further Israeli fire.
Dozens gathered at a Gaza City hospital to mourn the victims, with five body bags displayed outside and a man holding an infant wrapped in a white shroud.
“This is not a truce, it is a bloodbath,” said witness Nafiz al-Nader, calling for an end to the violence. Another witness reported that shelling began unexpectedly Friday night, hitting the school.
The ceasefire line is marked by a yellow line on maps and concrete markers on the ground, representing the current position of Israeli troops, who maintain control of approximately 53% of the territory. Israeli forces continue to conduct airstrikes in areas they do not occupy.
Friday’s killings represent the latest challenge to the three-month-old ceasefire, which mediators are attempting to extend into a second phase. The initial phase of the ceasefire aimed to halt hostilities between Hamas and Israel, facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the yellow line, and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, which had faced famine earlier in the year due to Israeli aid restrictions.
The second phase envisions a permanent peace in Gaza, but requires resolving disagreements between Hamas and Israel. Israel demands that Hamas relinquish its weapons and transfer power to a civilian transitional authority, alongside the deployment of an international stabilization force and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
There is currently no consensus on bridging the gap between these positions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Friday that the mandate of the international stabilization force – a crucial element of the ceasefire plan – needs clarification before countries commit troops.
Rubio added that several nations are willing to participate in the force, pending a clear understanding of its mandate and funding.
The ceasefire, which has prevented a resumption of full-scale conflict, is becoming increasingly fragile as progress towards a lasting resolution of the two-year Gaza war stalls.
Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, warned Thursday that further delays in implementing the second phase “endangers the entire process.”
The conflict began after Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages on October 7, 2023. All but one of the hostages and their remains have been returned to Israel in exchange for Palestinian detainees and prisoners under the terms of the ceasefire.
The Gaza health ministry reports that more than 70,925 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with roughly half being women and children. This death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are recovered from the rubble.
Extensive damage has been inflicted on civilian infrastructure and homes throughout the Gaza Strip.
A UN commission, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, allegations that Israel denies.
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