Gaza City—Israeli warplanes and artillery struck the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, shortly after a ceasefire deadline lapsed without implementation. According to Palestinian medics, at least eight people were killed in the attacks.
The ceasefire, scheduled to take effect at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT), was delayed after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Hamas provide the names of three hostages slated for release as part of the agreement. An hour before the deadline, Netanyahu’s office stated that the ceasefire would not begin until the list was received.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group controlling Gaza, affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire but cited “technical field reasons” for the delay in providing the hostage list. “The names could be released very soon,” a Hamas spokesperson said.
Israeli military spokespeople announced that aircraft and artillery targeted “terror targets” in northern and central Gaza, and affirmed that operations would continue until Hamas fulfilled its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported at least eight fatalities and dozens of injuries as a result of the Israeli strikes. Residents in areas like Beit Hanoun and the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, who had anticipated the ceasefire, were forced to flee amid renewed shelling.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched attacks into Israel that killed over 1,200 people according to Israeli authorities, has escalated into one of the region’s most devastating confrontations in years. Gaza-based health authorities report that nearly 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in subsequent Israeli responses.
The war has heightened tensions across the Middle East, involving regional powers and drawing international concern. Celebratory gunfire and cheers were reported in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis at the time the ceasefire was initially supposed to begin, reflecting hopes for a halt to the violence.
Under the ceasefire agreement, brokered through months of negotiations by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Hamas was expected to release three female hostages on Sunday through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In exchange, Israel would release 30 Palestinian prisoners from its jails for each hostage freed.
As part of the proposed deal, Israeli forces had reportedly begun withdrawing from areas in Gaza’s Rafah to positions along the border with Egypt. However, with the ceasefire delay, it remains uncertain when or if these movements will be completed.
The situation continues to develop, with international observers urging restraint and a return to negotiations to prevent further loss of life.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
