Gaza death toll since ceasefire reaches 983 after camp strike
Palestinian officials reported new Israeli attacks in Gaza and West Bank raids as the post-ceasefire toll continued to rise.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
An Israeli drone strike killed one person and wounded two others in central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp on Saturday, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The attack added to a rising casualty count in Gaza despite a ceasefire that has been in place since October.
The Palestinian Information Center identified the man killed in Bureij as Muawiya al-Aydi, a municipal worker. Wafa also reported that a separate Israeli attack wounded one person at a gathering in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least two Palestinians were killed and 11 others were injured by Israeli attacks across the enclave over the past 48 hours. The ministry said Israeli attacks have killed 983 people and injured 3,122 since the ceasefire was declared.
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces have continued attacks in Gaza while more than half of the enclave remains under Israeli military control, which it said violates the ceasefire terms. Hamas has accused Israel of repeated breaches of the agreement, including through continued strikes and changes to the so-called Yellow Line marking Israeli-controlled areas in Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Friday that Israel’s actions showed it did not intend to carry out the ceasefire agreement. He said Israel was trying to undermine negotiations and obstruct diplomatic efforts while escalating for political and electoral reasons.
West Bank raids and settler attacks reported
Israeli troops also carried out raids in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, according to Wafa. Al Jazeera described the operations as part of near-daily Israeli raids in the territory since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Wafa reported that Israeli forces used stun grenades and tear gas in two incidents near Bethlehem. One occurred during a raid on the Dheisheh refugee camp, and the other took place as Israeli forces blocked access to the Solomon’s Pools reservoirs, according to the agency, which said numerous people were injured.
A disabled Palestinian man was shot and wounded in Duma, near Hebron, Wafa reported. The agency said Israeli forces shot him, while Israeli media cited Israeli police as saying an Israeli settler was responsible.
According to Israeli police, as cited by Israeli media, the settler said he felt threatened because the man was carrying a rock. Wafa also reported that Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and damaged property near Bethlehem, including assaulting Palestinian electrical workers and stealing water pipes.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.