Israel has reportedly violated the ceasefire in Gaza at least 497 times since it came into effect on October 10, 2023, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, approximately 342 civilians have been killed, with children, women, and the elderly making up the majority of the victims. The office condemned these violations as a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Gaza Government Media Office emphasized, “These violations constitute a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and the humanitarian protocol attached to the agreement.” On that day alone, 27 violations were reported, leading to 24 fatalities and 87 injuries. The office claimed that Israel bears full responsibility for the humanitarian consequences stemming from these ongoing violations.
The situation has intensified as Israel continues to impose stringent restrictions on the flow of essential aid and medical supplies into the already devastated enclave, despite the terms outlined in the ceasefire agreement. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 24 Palestinians, including children, marking yet another breach of the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacks were a response to an incident in which a Hamas fighter targeted Israeli soldiers in the region known as the yellow line, a boundary established during the ceasefire. Netanyahu’s office reported, “In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas [fighters].” There has been no comment from Hamas regarding the killed fighters.
Local authorities have indicated that many Palestinian families are being “besieged” in northern Gaza as Israeli military forces reposition themselves deeper into the territory, further violating the ceasefire. The yellow line refers to an unmarked boundary where Israeli troops have established a presence since the ceasefire was initiated last month.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire “under fabricated pretexts” and has urged mediators, including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, to intervene. In a statement, Hamas asserted that Israel has advanced beyond the yellow line, altering the agreed-upon boundaries of the ceasefire.
“We call upon the mediators to intervene urgently and exert pressure to immediately halt these violations,” the Palestinian group stated. They have also urged the US administration to fulfill its commitments and compel Israel to adhere to its obligations while addressing its attempts to undermine the ceasefire.
A senior Hamas official dismissed reports from Saudi Arabia-owned Al Arabiya suggesting that Hamas had called off the ceasefire. Izzat al-Risheq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, expressed to the Quds News Network, “Israel is fabricating pretexts to evade the agreement and return to the war of annihilation, while it is the one violating the agreement daily and systematically.”
As the situation in Gaza continues to escalate, the humanitarian crisis deepens, prompting calls for urgent action from the international community to address the ongoing violence and ensure compliance with the ceasefire.
