Israeli Airstrike Claims Lives of Six Civilians in Central Gaza City

According to reports, an Israeli airstrike in the center of Gaza City resulted in the deaths of six civilians.

In a recent development, military tanks from the occupying forces have reportedly targeted a group of civilians near the Netzarim checkpoint, located in central Gaza.

A female civilian lost her life in an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Al-Shawka, located east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Occupation forces have reportedly engaged in gunfire directed at civilian residences in the eastern section of Khuza’a, located to the east of Khan Yunis city in the southern Gaza Strip. Additionally, an Israeli tank has launched a shell towards the eastern area of Abasan Al-Jadida, also situated east of Khan Yunis city.

The Gaza Strip has seen a dramatic increase in casualties, with the death toll climbing to 48,503 since hostilities began on October 7, 2023. In addition, the number of injuries has surged to 111,927.

Following the implementation of a ceasefire agreement on January 19, hostilities persist in the Gaza Strip, with ongoing military actions resulting in numerous casualties, including both fatalities and injuries, in recent weeks. The situation remains tense as military operations continue, marked by the advance of tanks and further demolition of homes within the region.

Hamas has issued a warning that the Israeli occupation’s continued closure of border crossings and the prevention of aid deliveries into Gaza for the 10th consecutive day heighten the risk of a famine crisis in the region.

The Israeli administration maintains a closure of all border crossings with the Gaza Strip, hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance and essential supplies, according to a statement from the Hamas Resistance Movement. This ongoing blockade exacerbates the hardships faced by the over two million residents of Gaza.

Hamas has stated that the closure of Gaza’s border crossings represents a violation of the ceasefire agreement, which requires unrestricted facilitation of aid entry into the region.

Hamas has asserted that the closure constitutes a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, describing it as a war crime and an act of collective punishment that endangers the lives of innocent civilians.

The obstruction of essential resources such as food, medicine, and fuel into Gaza has triggered a significant rise in food prices and a critical shortage of medical supplies, worsening the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. Additionally, the closure of crossings and the prohibition of heavy machinery access have hindered recovery operations for those buried under debris and stalled rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, thereby intensifying the hardships faced by the population already enduring adverse conditions.

Hamas has urged mediators to exert pressure on the occupying forces to honor their obligations under the ceasefire agreement. This includes opening Gaza’s crossings to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and putting an end to the collective punishment policies allegedly imposed by the occupation authorities on the populace.

Hamas has strongly criticized the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of political coercion, asserting that such aggressive tactics will not undermine the resolve of their people nor accomplish the goals of the occupying forces.

The Palestinian people are resolute in their determination and will persist in their efforts to reclaim their legitimate rights.

It has been confirmed that a fresh series of discussions is slated to commence on Tuesday evening in Doha. These talks aim to tackle the key challenges impeding the execution of the ceasefire agreement, amidst ongoing Israeli actions perceived as violations and disregard for the accord.