Five Palestinians, including a baby, were killed in Gaza City after Israeli troops fired over the ceasefire line on Friday, according to Shifa Hospital.
Incident in Tuffah
The casualties occurred in Tuffah, an eastern neighborhood of Gaza City, as reported by Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital. He said the five died in that area.
Military Statement and Review
Israel’s military said troops identified “a number of suspicious individuals … in command structures west of the Yellow Line,” and fired at them. The incident is under review, and the military “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals,” it added.
Ceasefire Context and Diplomatic Efforts
The Yellow Line divides the Israeli-held part of Gaza from the rest of the territory and was drawn under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect in October. The truce, now in its third month, has largely held but its progress has slowed amid accusations of violations by both sides. On the same Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was planning to host top officials from Middle Eastern countries mediating the ceasefire in Florida.
The first phase began in October, days after the two-year anniversary of the initial Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people. All but one of the 251 hostages taken that day have been released, alive or dead, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The war has killed more than 70,660 Palestinians, roughly half of them women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
Future Phase Challenges
The second phase of the deal is expected to involve larger challenges: the deployment of an international stabilization force, a technocratic governing body for Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and further Israeli troop withdrawals from the territory.
Key Takeaways
- Five Palestinians, including a baby, died in Gaza City after Israeli troops fired over the ceasefire line.
- The incident is under review, with the military expressing regret for harm to uninvolved individuals.
- The truce, in its third month, faces slowed progress amid mutual accusations of violations, and diplomatic talks aim to advance to a more complex second phase.
The incident underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and highlights the urgent need for renewed diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.
