Medics report deaths in separate incidents in Khan Younis and occupied West Bank amid ongoing tensions despite US-brokered truce; Gaza health officials say hundreds killed since October ceasefire took effect.
At least six Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, medical and security sources said, in the latest incidents highlighting persistent violence despite a fragile ceasefire agreement.
In the Gaza Strip, two Israeli strikes early on Sunday targeted areas in southern Gaza, killing six people including three policemen, according to Nasser Hospital authorities. One strike hit a police checkpoint, while another struck a group of people in the Khan Younis area. Four others were wounded in the attacks.
The strikes occurred in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, where bodies were transferred to Nasser Hospital. Palestinian medical sources described the attacks as clear violations of the US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October last year.
Ceasefire violations continue:
The latest deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began to several hundred, according to Gaza health officials. The truce, part of a broader US-mediated plan, was intended to halt hostilities, facilitate hostage releases and begin reconstruction efforts, but has been repeatedly undermined by reported Israeli operations targeting what Israel describes as security threats.
In the occupied West Bank, separate incidents involving Israeli forces also resulted in Palestinian fatalities, contributing to the total of six deaths reported across both territories in recent hours. Palestinian health officials and local sources reported shootings and clashes in areas near Hebron and other locations.
The Israeli military has not immediately commented on the specific strikes, but has previously stated that its operations target militant activity and pose no threat to the broader ceasefire framework.
A fragile truce overshadowed by regional developments:
The Gaza ceasefire, now in its second phase, remains under strain as Israel focuses on other regional fronts, including the ongoing conflict with Iran. Analysts note that while large-scale ground operations have paused, low-level strikes, drone attacks and incursions continue, raising fears of a full collapse of the agreement.
Palestinian factions have accused Israel of systematic violations aimed at weakening local security structures and preventing reconstruction. Gaza authorities say more than 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce began, with thousands more injured.
Humanitarian conditions in the enclave remain dire despite increased aid flows in the early phases of the deal. Displacement, destroyed infrastructure and food insecurity continue to affect the population.
Appeals for accountability and reduced tensions:
Palestinian officials and rights groups have renewed calls for international intervention to enforce the ceasefire terms, including full Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza and an end to settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank.
The United Nations and several countries have expressed concern over the repeated breaches, urging all parties to recommit to the US-brokered framework to avoid a return to full-scale war.
As funerals were held for the latest victims in Gaza, mourners carried bodies through devastated streets, scenes that have become tragically familiar despite declarations of peace.