In the deadliest single violation of the fragile ceasefire since it took effect eight days ago, Israeli forces have killed 11 members of a Palestinian family in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s civil defence, the attack happened on Friday evening when a tank shell was fired by Israeli forces at a civilian vehicle carrying the Abu Shaaban family in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Civil Defence Spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal said in a statement that seven children and three women were among those killed when the Israeli military fired on the vehicle as the family attempted to reach their home to inspect it.
“They could have been warned or dealt with differently. What happened confirms that the occupation is still thirsty for blood, and insists on committing crimes against innocent civilians.”
Mahmoud Basal
In that attack, Israeli soldiers opened fire on people who crossed the so-called “yellow line”, the demarcation to which Israel’s military was supposed to pull back under the ceasefire terms.
Hamas condemned what it called a “massacre” and said the family was targeted without justification. The group called on United States President Donald Trump and mediators to pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire agreement.
As the exchange of captives for Palestinian prisoners under the provisions of the deal has continued, Israel has killed at least 28 Palestinians, and heavily restricted the flow of desperately needed aid, including food and medical supplies.
Last week, Israeli forces killed five Palestinians in the Shujayea neighbourhood, also in Gaza City. Israel has continued to seal the Rafah crossing with Egypt and blocked other key border crossings, preventing large-scale aid deliveries into the enclave.
The United Nations warned this week that aid convoys are struggling to reach famine-hit areas, with 49 percent of people accessing less than six litres of drinking water per day – well below emergency standards.
The World Food Programme said it has brought an average of 560 tonnes of food daily into Gaza since the ceasefire began, far below what is needed to address widespread malnutrition and prevent famine.
Meanwhile, Hamas has said that it remains committed to the ceasefire terms, including returning the remains of Israeli captives still under Gaza’s rubble.
The group handed over the body of another captive on Friday evening, bringing the total to 10 since the truce began.
Hamas said that it needs heavy machinery and excavation equipment to retrieve more remains, but Israel has blocked their entry.
A reporter said that by blocking heavy equipment and machinery from entering, Israel is creating “a challenge for the residents of Gaza who are experienced and have the expertise to search and to dig out bodies from under the rubble” with that type of equipment.
Gaza Ceasefire “Precarious”
Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), opined that the killing of the 11-member family in Gaza indicates just how precarious the ceasefire is.
He noted that it highlights that Israel is still prepared to use all force necessary if it so chooses. “It also shows this issue of the yellow line … it’s a kill line,” he said, adding that it’s one that if a Palestinian crosses, “you’re going to be executed.”
“If you believe the Israeli version of this, that this was an attack mounted via an attack tunnel, then quite surely, the Israeli authorities will have some evidence of this, that there will be footage of it, that there will be some way of trying to demonstrate that they have acted appropriately. I rather fear that that’s not going to be the case.”
Chris Doyle
Meanwhile, there is no real oversight of how Israeli forces conduct themselves in Gaza, he said.
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