The Gaza Government Media Office says Israel has carried out at least 497 violations of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire over 44 days, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians since the truce began on October 10, Al Jazeera reported.
According to the office, 342 civilians have been killed, most of them children, women and older people.
In a statement Saturday, the media office condemned what it described as “serious and systematic” breaches of the agreement and said the actions amount to violations of international humanitarian law.
It said 27 violations were recorded on Saturday alone, leaving 24 people dead and 87 injured. The office said Israel is responsible for the humanitarian and security consequences of its actions and continues to limit the entry of essential aid and medical supplies into Gaza despite requirements under the ceasefire.
Israeli forces launched a series of air strikes across Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including children, in what officials in Gaza say is the latest breach of the six-week-old truce. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the strikes were carried out after a Hamas fighter attacked Israeli soldiers inside Gaza’s “yellow line” zone. It said Israel “eliminated five senior Hamas fighters” in response.
Hamas called on mediators and the United States to press Israel to provide evidence for its claims and to uphold the agreement, accusing Israel of fabricating excuses to return to full-scale war. The group rejected suggestions that it had withdrawn from the ceasefire.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza City reported that the truce amounts to “a ceasefire in name,” saying Israeli air strikes have continued despite the agreed pause and have left residents feeling unsafe.
Local authorities say dozens of families in northern Gaza remain trapped as Israeli forces push deeper into the territory, exceeding the boundaries set by the ceasefire. The “yellow line” refers to an unmarked zone where Israeli troops repositioned when the deal took effect, giving Israel control of more than half of the enclave. Hamas says Israeli forces have moved beyond that line, altering the terms of the agreement.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Forensic Evidence Department says it needs equipment and laboratory support to identify the bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel as part of the truce deal. Many of the bodies, officials say, show signs of torture, mutilation and execution. Of the 330 bodies that have been handed over, only 90 have been identified so far.
