Gaza: Six Palestinians were killed and others injured Sunday as Israeli military actions continued in the Gaza Strip, contradicting Israeli claims of reduced military operations.
According to Anadolu Agency, medical sources and eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli army targeted residential buildings and tents housing displaced families across various parts of the enclave, which has been enduring a prolonged campaign of extermination.
The attacks occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump stated that he believes Hamas is 'ready for lasting peace' and urged Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza to facilitate the release of Israeli prisoners. In one of the incidents, four Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid near the US-Israeli distribution hub in the Shakoush area northwest of Rafah.
Since May 27, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been conducting aid distribution, a move rejected by the UN and referred to by Palestinians as 'death traps.' Israeli forces have been accused of repeatedly targeting aid recipients, resulting in thousands of casualties.
Additional casualties were reported following Israeli drone strikes on displaced persons' tents east of Asda, north of Khan Younis. Israeli artillery also shelled central Khan Younis, and airstrikes targeted the northern parts of the city.
In the Sabra neighborhood, one Palestinian was killed and others injured after Israeli strikes hit the upper floors of residential buildings on Al-Thalathini Street. Another Palestinian was killed while waiting for aid near the Netzarim distribution hub in central Gaza. Israeli forces also shelled Al-Azhar University and targeted areas such as the eastern Al-Maghazi camp and the northern Al-Bureij camp with airstrikes and artillery fire.
On Saturday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared readiness to execute the first phase of Trump's plan, which calls for the immediate release of all Israeli prisoners. Reports from Israeli military and media indicate that political leadership had ordered a halt to the occupation of Gaza City and a shift to defensive operations only.
Trump's 20-point plan, announced on Sept. 29, aims to free Israeli captives, halt hostilities, and disarm Hamas. Israel believes that 48 Israeli prisoners, including 20 alive, are held in Gaza, while around 11,100 Palestinians are in Israeli jails, facing torture, starvation, and medical neglect, with many reported dead.
The Israeli army has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. These relentless attacks have made the enclave uninhabitable, leading to starvation and disease outbreaks.