Israeli Airstrikes Claim Three Lives in Gaza Amid Ongoing Tensions
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of three individuals west of Gaza City, as confirmed by Shifa Hospital, where the victims were taken.
This incident unfolded against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire that has been in place for four months, yet fighting persists. The Israeli military stated that the strikes were a direct response to gunfire directed at its troops in Rafah, which they labeled a breach of the ceasefire agreement. “We are targeting with precision,” the army asserted.
The ceasefire, backed by the U.S., was established after stalled negotiations and involved both Israel and Hamas agreeing to a 20-point plan proposed by former President Donald Trump. This plan aimed to bring an end to the conflict ignited by Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Trump had characterized the agreement as a pathway to a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
As part of this deal, Hamas released all living hostages it held in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel, along with the remains of others.
However, significant issues regarding the governance of Gaza remain unresolved, with the U.S. providing no definitive timeline for future discussions.
In a related development, the United Nations expressed alarm over Israel’s recent decision to intensify its control over the occupied West Bank. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conveyed his “grave concern,” warning that such actions could undermine the viability of a two-state solution. “These measures are destabilizing and, as noted by the International Court of Justice, unlawful,” spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated.
Israel's security cabinet approved new measures aimed at consolidating control over the West Bank while diminishing the already limited authority of the Palestinian Authority. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich remarked that these actions would facilitate Jewish settlers in pressuring Palestinians to relinquish land, asserting, “We will continue to bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians seek all three territories for their future state.
Meanwhile, improvements at the Rafah crossing with Egypt have been reported. Ali Shaath, who oversees daily operations in Gaza, indicated that conditions at the crossing are gradually enhancing after an initial week marked by confusion and delays. On Monday, 88 Palestinians were scheduled to cross through Rafah, surpassing numbers from earlier days.
The European Union border mission noted that since reopening, 284 Palestinians have crossed, including those returning from fleeing conflict and medical evacuees. However, this figure remains below the target of 50 medical evacuees exiting and 50 returnees entering daily, as negotiated by various officials.
Palestinian officials estimate that nearly 20,000 individuals are seeking to leave Gaza for medical treatment unavailable in its severely damaged healthcare system.
Reports from those who returned to Gaza after the crossing reopened described extensive delays and thorough searches conducted by Israeli authorities and an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group known as Abu Shabab. Israel has denied allegations of mistreatment.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported five additional fatalities over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 581 since the ceasefire began in October. This truce facilitated the return of remaining hostages—both living captives and deceased individuals—from the 251 abducted during Hamas’ initial attack.
The attack by Hamas militants resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly among civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s military operations have claimed over 72,000 Palestinian lives, according to figures from the ministry operating under Hamas governance, which is regarded as a reliable source for casualty statistics by the U.N. and independent experts.
