The Gaza Strip faced another day of Israeli military attacks, resulting in the deaths of three individuals as reported by Palestinian health authorities. Israeli shelling and gunfire were witnessed by residents in northern Gaza, despite Israel’s commitment to a ceasefire mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Israeli military did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment from Reuters.
Additionally, another Palestinian passed away from injuries sustained in previous Israeli shelling, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency. The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., has faced challenges as unresolved issues such as Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal timeline from Gaza continue to linger since its implementation three weeks ago.
Following the death of an Israeli soldier, Israel carried out retaliatory bombardments from Tuesday to Wednesday, resulting in the reported deaths of 104 individuals according to Gaza health authorities. The Gaza Health Ministry received 30 bodies of Palestinians killed during the conflict from the Red Cross, a day after Hamas handed over two hostage bodies.
As part of the ceasefire terms, Hamas released all living hostages in Gaza in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, while Israel agreed to withdraw troops, cease offensive actions, and increase aid. Hamas also committed to delivering the remains of all 28 deceased hostages in return for 360 Palestinian militants killed during the conflict. Despite the recent handovers, tensions persist as Hamas states it requires more time to locate and retrieve the remaining bodies, with Israel accusing Hamas of truce violations through delays in the handover process.
The conflict in Gaza over the past two years has resulted in the deaths of over 68,000 Palestinians, as per Gaza health authorities, severely impacting the region. Israel initiated the conflict after an attack by Hamas-led fighters on southern Israel in October 2023, leading to casualties and hostages being taken back to Gaza, according to Israeli sources.