The Gaza Strip faced a fourth consecutive day of Israeli military attacks on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, as reported by Palestinian health authorities. Residents witnessed Israeli shelling and gunfire in northern Gaza despite Israel’s affirmation of its commitment to a ceasefire mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Israeli military did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Reuters.
Another Palestinian lost his life due to injuries sustained from previous Israeli shelling, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency. The ceasefire brokered by the U.S., which did not address critical issues such as Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal timeline from Gaza, faced challenges with sporadic outbreaks of violence since its implementation three weeks ago.
Following the death of an Israeli soldier, Israel launched retaliatory bombardments between Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in the reported deaths of 104 individuals by Gaza health authorities. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed the retrieval of 30 Palestinian bodies killed by Israel during the conflict, with Hamas handing over two hostages’ bodies.
As per the ceasefire terms, Hamas released all living hostages in Gaza in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, while Israel committed to troop withdrawal, cessation of offensive actions, and increased aid. Hamas agreed to surrender the remains of all 28 deceased hostages in return for 360 Palestinian militants killed during the conflict. However, Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by delaying the handover process.
The two-year conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 68,000 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza health authorities, and has left the region severely devastated. The war was initiated by Israel in response to Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the return of 251 hostages to Gaza according to Israeli reports.
