Gaza City, DZWatch – Israeli forces conducted airstrikes east of Rafah and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip early Thursday, further jeopardizing the already fragile ceasefire agreement. Reports indicate a renewed wave of aerial bombardments and gunfire from Israeli helicopters targeting areas near Khan Yunis.
These actions represent a blatant violation of the ceasefire, with continued shelling of locations both within and outside areas where Israeli troops are stationed. The harsh winter conditions exacerbate the suffering of Gazan residents, a situation compounded by restricted aid deliveries imposed by Israeli authorities.
Earlier in the day, medical sources reported that 11 Palestinians sustained injuries from an Israeli drone strike targeting a group of civilians in Gaza City. This area was previously evacuated by Israeli forces as part of the ceasefire agreement. Witnesses claim that an artillery shell landed amidst a gathering of people in the Al-Samar area of Gaza City.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, a military source attributed the incident to an artillery shell that missed its intended target by approximately four kilometers. The targeted zone falls within the regions from which Israeli troops withdrew during the initial phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, which took effect on October 10th.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces maintain control over the southern and eastern border areas of Gaza, as well as significant portions of northern Gaza, effectively occupying approximately 60% of the territory. Since the October ceasefire, numerous violations have been recorded, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, according to official sources within the Strip.
The devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023 and lasted for two years, has resulted in over 70,000 fatalities and more than 171,000 injuries, primarily affecting women and children. The conflict has also caused widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip.
