Israel violates ceasefire and kills at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza

Israel murdered at least three Palestinians in Gaza this Thursday (16), in yet another violation of the ceasefire signed less than a week ago.

The deaths were confirmed by medical sources and humanitarian agencies, who warned of the risk of the truce collapsing. The actions, added to attacks and executions recorded in previous days, directly challenge the agreement brokered by Washington and make the prospect of peace even more fragile.

The victims were hit by shelling in Gaza City and Khan Yunis, according to the Gaza Human Rights Center.

Since the beginning of the ceasefire, the organization has recorded 36 Israeli violations, including airstrikes, shootings and arbitrary arrests. The total number of deaths since the start of the war, in October 2023, already exceeds 67,900 Palestinians.

This Thursday’s allegations add to episodes recorded this Tuesday (14) and Wednesday (15), when at least 11 Palestinians were killed during the truce.

In Shejaiya, a neighborhood of Gaza City, three civilians were hit by an Israeli airstrike after approaching military troops.

The Army claimed that the soldiers “opened fire to eliminate the threat” and that the actions “respect the terms of the ceasefire”. In northern Gaza, two other Palestinians were shot for allegedly crossing the “Yellow Line”, created by Israel to delimit areas under its military control.

Read more: UN: 80% of Gaza’s buildings were destroyed by war

The attacks occurred while the Israeli government blocked the Rafah crossing, the main entry point for humanitarian aid. Israel accused Hamas of breaching the agreement by delaying the delivery of hostage bodies and announced the temporary suspension of food and medicine convoys.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir defended the total blockade of aid, saying that Hamas “lies, deceives and abuses families and bodies” and that “this Nazi terror understands only force”.

In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “the fighting is not over” and that Israel is “determined to guarantee the return of all hostages”.

The speech was interpreted as a sign of hardening, at a time when even Western allies are putting pressure on Tel Aviv to maintain the ceasefire. “Whoever touches us will know that they will pay a very high price,” Netanyahu said during a military ceremony on Mount Herzl.

Meanwhile, aid convoys remain stranded on the Egyptian side of the border, awaiting authorization to enter Gaza.

The UN’s top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, described the territory as a “devastated desert” and called for “true generosity and access” from the international community to prevent the collapse of the truce.

“We need financing, we need access and we need this peace agreement to be sustained,” he said.

The new deaths recorded, added to those from previous days, reinforce the perception that Israel continues to operate under the logic of occupation with maximum violence, even in times of ceasefire.

For humanitarian organizations, Israeli military behavior deepens the civil crisis and undermines attempts at reconstruction and dialogue. The UN has warned that if violations persist, the agreement could collapse at any moment, reigniting a war that has already completely devastated Gaza.