GAZA – Israeli troops shot dead Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday in what local and international media described as the first major breach of a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect this month.
Reports of the number killed vary by outlet: Al Jazeera’s live coverage put the toll at “at least nine” people killed in separate incidents in northern Gaza City and southern Khan Younis, while Reuters and local health officials reported smaller tallies.
According to Israeli military statements, soldiers opened fire after groups approached positions that Israeli forces had been ordered to pull back from under the initial terms of the truce.
Al Jazeera quoted the army saying troops fired at “suspects” who were “crossing the yellow line”, the redeployment boundary set out in the agreement. Local health authorities in Gaza said casualties were caused by Israeli fire.
The violence came days after negotiators announced a phased ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and detainees, a deal that ushered in cautious hope for a halt to two years of intense fighting.
Observers warned that any shooting during the pullback risks undermining fragile confidence-building measures and imperils the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Reuters reporting noted concerns about the ceasefire’s durability as both sides grapple with unresolved issues over security arrangements and governance.
In a separate development, Israeli authorities signalled measures to restrict or slow aid transfers in response to disputes over the handling of remains and other compliance problems with the deal, a move that aid agencies warned could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation. International mediators called for restraint while urging transparent investigations into the incidents.
The differing casualty figures underscore the confusion on the ground and the difficulty of independently verifying events in areas where movement remains tightly constrained.
Humanitarian and diplomatic representatives are likely to press for an immediate independent inquiry and clearer rules of engagement to prevent further bloodshed during the delicate transition from conflict to reconstruction.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, AP