Israeli attacks persists in Gaza after ceasefire agreement announced

Israeli attacks have continued in the Gaza Strip despite an announcement by mediators on Thursday that a ceasefire had been reached to end the two-year war on the Palestinian enclave.

Heavy air strikes and artillery shelling were reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis overnight, according to local media.

Israeli quadcopters were also reported to have dropped bombs on civilians in Gaza City.

At least one person was killed in the attacks.

The renewed strikes came after US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators announced early Thursday that a deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas to end the war.

According to Qatar, the two sides agreed on the details of the first phase of a deal that would "lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid."

Further details are expected to be released later, said Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari.

In a statement, Hamas said an agreement had been reached to “end the war on Gaza, ensure the withdrawal of the occupation forces, allow the entry of aid, and facilitate a prisoner exchange.”

In a post on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it "a great day for Israel" and thanked US President Donald Trump and his team for their efforts in securing the release of captives.

Netanyahu added that he would convene his government on Thursday to approve the agreement and “bring the hostages home.”

Media reports suggest the ceasefire could come into effect as early as noon local time on Thursday.

Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza ceasefire plan

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By Sunday or Monday, Hamas is expected to release 20 living captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, though the final list is still pending approval.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces will begin a phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However, it remains unclear what the withdrawal lines will be during the initial phase.

At least 400 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza immediately after the agreement is signed, with the number expected to increase in the coming days.

Other terms of the deal, part of the US's so-called "peace plan," will be discussed at a later stage. These include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of international forces in the territory, and additional provisions.

The war on Gaza began on 7 October 2023, following a surprise Hamas-led attack on Israel. Hamas cited Israel’s decades-long occupation, growing violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the crippling blockade of Gaza, and the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners as the main reasons for its assault.

The Israeli army's southern command - tasked with monitoring Palestinians and maintaining the blockade along the Gaza boundary - collapsed during the initial hours of the Hamas attack, resulting in widespread chaos.

Palestinians killed at least 1,180 people in the assault, with more than 700 additional deaths reported in the fighting since. Nearly half of Israel’s total death toll are civilians, while the remainder are soldiers.

In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip, followed by a devastating ground invasion that lasted two years, accompanied by a strict siege on the population. 

Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, over 80 percent of whom are believed to be civilians, according to leaked data from the Israeli military.

The assault also caused widespread famine and led to the destruction or damage of nearly every standing structure in Gaza - including homes, hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches.

Numerous international bodies, UN experts, and countries have classified Israel’s actions as acts of genocide against the Palestinian people.