Dozens of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes despite ceasefire agreement
Israel’s army killed four more Palestinians in Gaza on Monday, a day after air strikes on southern Gaza killed at least 42 people. US President Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in effect, suggesting that “rebels” within Hamas may be behind the renewed violence.
- Israeli air strikes on Sunday killed at least 42 Palestinians in southern Gaza, with four more deaths reported in Gaza City a day later.
- The Gaza Media Office said 97 Palestinians have been killed and 230 wounded since the ceasefire took effect.
- US President Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire remains in place, blaming “rebels” in Hamas for sporadic violence.
The Israeli army killed four more Palestinians on Monday (20 Oct) in Gaza, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, a medical source said.
Two Palestinians were killed in a drone strike in the Ash-Shuaf area of the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, while two brothers were reportedly shot dead by an Israeli sniper in the same district, the source added.
Witnesses said the area where the brothers were killed lies within zones west of Israel’s temporary withdrawal line, known as the “yellow line.”
The “yellow line” is an unofficial demarcation separating areas under Israeli military control from those where Palestinians are permitted to move within the Gaza Strip.
Eastern sections of Ash-Shuaf, east of the “yellow line,” remain under Israeli control, while the western side — where the brothers were killed — is considered “safe” under the ceasefire terms, according to Israeli army statements.
The Israeli army later acknowledged in a statement that its forces had fired on several Palestinians, alleging they had crossed the “yellow line.”
Over 40 Killed in Israeli Air Strikes on Southern Gaza
A day earlier, Israel’s military launched at least 20 air strikes on southern Gaza, killing at least 42 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence agency.
The Gaza Media Office reported that Israel has violated the ceasefire in Gaza 80 times, killing at least 97 Palestinians and wounding another 230 since the truce took effect on 10 October.
The Israeli army said it had carried out a “massive and extensive wave” of strikes on dozens of targets after its troops came under fire from Hamas fighters in Rafah — a claim Hamas denied.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed near Rafah.
In a post on X, the Israeli army said: “Terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.”
“In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity,” the statement said, adding that the attacks by Hamas constituted “a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
Trump Insists Ceasefire Still in Effect, Blames “Rebels” in Hamas
US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in effect, suggesting that “rebels” within Hamas may be responsible for recent outbreaks of violence threatening the fragile truce.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Hamas had been “quite rambunctious” and “doing some shooting,” implying that the incidents may have been carried out by rogue elements rather than the group’s leadership.
“It’s going to be handled toughly but properly,” he said, adding that Washington “wants to make sure it’s going to be very peaceful.”
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance said he may visit Israel in the coming days to “check on how things are going.”
Trump announced on 8 October that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace plan he unveiled on 29 September to end the war in Gaza.
The deal includes a ceasefire, the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.
Hostage Remains Handed Over Under Ceasefire Deal
On Monday evening (20 Oct), Hamas handed over the remains of an Israeli hostage to the Red Cross under the ceasefire agreement, according to the Israeli army.
A military statement said the coffin had been transferred to the Red Cross and was en route to Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has already released 20 living Israeli hostages on 13 October and handed over the remains of 13 others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal.
The group said it remains committed to returning the bodies of hostages killed in Gaza, in line with the ceasefire proposal.
Since 7 October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 68,200 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 20,179 children, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
