Israeli shelling and drone attacks across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of five people and injured eleven others on Friday, according to reports from Palestinian and Israeli officials. These latest casualties occurred in the Maghazi refugee camp and the southern city of Rafah while a ceasefire remains technically in effect.
Two men died in Maghazi following a targeted drone strike, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. In Rafah, the Israeli military stated its air force killed three individuals described as “terrorists” emerging from an underground structure, adding that follow-up strikes were conducted against the remaining group members.
Israeli naval forces also reportedly engaged fishing boats off the Rafah coast with heavy machinegun fire, though Wafa noted no immediate casualty reports from that specific incident. Rafah holds strategic significance as the primary crossing point into Egypt, a vital conduit for humanitarian aid that Palestinian authorities demand be fully reopened under the current truce terms.
Six Palestinians, including a pregnant woman according to Anadolu news agency, sustained injuries when Israeli forces shelled a tent sheltering displaced persons in the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis. These incidents contribute to a grim tally, with Palestinian authorities stating that at least 492 Palestinians have been killed and 1,356 injured since the ceasefire commenced in October.
The US-brokered truce, intended to bring a definitive end to hostilities that began on October 7, 2023, is reportedly facing mutual accusations of repeated violations from both sides. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently emphasized the necessity of full agreement implementation, including a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
However, the Israeli military maintains that its forces are deployed consistent with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations to neutralize immediate threats. Progress toward the final stages of the truce agreement remains limited on the ground despite Washington's earlier declaration of advancement to phase two.
