In the context of escalating tensions in West Asia, the Gaza media office has accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire 47 times since the agreement between Tel Aviv and Hamas was established in early October.
During this period, the Gazan media reported that the Israeli assaults resulted in the deaths of 38 Palestinians and injuries to 143 individuals throughout the Gaza Strip.
“These breaches have encompassed acts of direct gunfire against civilians, intentional shelling and targeting, as well as the detention of numerous civilians, illustrating the occupation’s persistent policy of aggression despite the proclaimed cessation of hostilities,” stated the Gaza media office in an official announcement.
“Authorities in Gaza have urged the United Nations and the guarantor parties of the agreement to take immediate action to compel the occupation to cease its ongoing aggression and to safeguard unarmed civilian populations.”
Rafah remains closed.
In the meantime, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the Rafah crossing – a vital entry point for humanitarian aid – will only be reopened once Hamas surrenders the remains of all deceased hostages still in Gaza. “Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed that the Rafah crossing remain closed until further notice,” a statement from his office released on Saturday stated. “The decision to reopen will be contingent upon how Hamas meets its obligations to return the hostages and the remains of the deceased, as well as to adhere to the agreed-upon terms.”
The Israeli military announced late on Saturday that the Red Cross had received the remains of two hostages held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement. Amid the turmoil, 11 members of a Palestinian family were killed by Israeli forces on Friday, an incident described as the most lethal single violation of the fragile ceasefire since it was enacted eight days prior.
In a statement, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that the family was attempting to return to their residence in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City when the bus they were traveling in was attacked for allegedly crossing the “yellow line” that marks the areas under Israeli army control.
“They had crossed the so-called ‘yellow line’, an imaginary boundary referenced by the Israeli army,” stated Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense. “I am convinced that the family could not differentiate between the yellow and red lines due to the absence of any actual physical markers on the ground.”
In the meantime, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that a “suspicious vehicle was detected crossing the yellow line and approaching IDF troops operating in the northern Gaza Strip,” adding: “The troops discharged warning shots towards the suspicious vehicle; however, the vehicle continued to approach the troops in a manner that posed an imminent threat to them. The troops opened fire to neutralize the threat, in accordance with the established protocol.”
Israel and Hamas have persistently exchanged accusations regarding violations of the truce. Israel has charged Hamas with breaching the agreement by not returning the remains of deceased hostages. On Monday, Hamas returned the final 20 surviving hostages, but as of Saturday evening, it had only returned 12 of the 28 deceased captives, stating that it would require specialized recovery equipment to retrieve the remaining bodies from the debris of Gaza. Therefore, it remains to be seen how long the fragile ceasefire agreement will endure.
