Israel kills at least 12 Palestinians in Gaza amid ‘ceasefire’ | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Israeli Forces Kill 12 Palestinians Amid Ongoing Gaza Tensions
Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians, according to medical sources. Reports indicate that the violence continues despite a ceasefire established last year.
On Friday, an Israeli strike targeting a police vehicle in Khan Younis killed at least eight individuals, including three civilians. In a separate incident in Gaza City, two police officers also lost their lives. Additionally, a bombing in Beit Lahiya claimed the lives of two more individuals.
Gaza’s Ministry of Interior condemned the assaults, urging the international community to intervene. It asserted that the attack in Khan Younis followed efforts by local police to de-escalate a confrontation in the area.
“The ongoing silence of international organizations regarding the targeting of civilian police officers constitutes complicity and encourages further violations by the Israeli occupation,” the ministry stated. It emphasized the police force’s role in maintaining daily life for citizens in the Gaza Strip, asserting that there is no justification for such violence against their personnel.
Israel’s military actions have been characterized as targeting police as part of a broader strategy. During previous conflicts, police officers securing humanitarian aid convoys faced similar threats, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Since a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect in October 2022, Israeli airstrikes have continued. Health authorities report that at least 984 individuals have died and 2,235 have been injured since the truce was announced. Just this week, strikes resulted in the deaths of five people, including three children.
Overall, the conflict has led to more than 72,500 fatalities, with an additional 172,000 individuals injured. Thousands are unaccounted for, believed to be trapped under debris from destroyed buildings. This casualty count exceeds 7% of Gaza’s population, which totals around two million.
Numerous human rights organizations and United Nations investigators have characterized Israel’s military actions as genocide, citing a deliberate attempt to undermine the Palestinian population. Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli forces have continued operations in Gaza while also engaging in strikes against southern Lebanon, violating a separate ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Hamas has termed the recent attacks a manifestation of the Israeli government’s “bloody, fascist approach.” The group criticized the failure of international mediators to curb what it described as the “barbaric Zionist killing machine.”
As the ceasefire enters its seventh month, the implementation of a 12-point peace plan remains stagnant, with reconstruction efforts in Gaza yet to commence. An international security force, envisioned as part of the agreement, has also not been established.
In February, Trump convened a group intended to oversee Gaza’s governance, although clarity on the timeline or framework for this transition remains elusive.
