Israeli strikes kill five Palestinians sheltering in Gaza makeshift camp

Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including two children, after bombing a tent in a previously designated humanitarian zone in Gaza on Wednesday. 

At least four drone strikes were reported west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza late at night, targeting a makeshift camp for displaced people.

The attack occurred outside Israeli-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip, marking the latest violation of the ceasefire.

Israel claimed the bombing was in response to an exchange of fire earlier in the day between its troops and Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels in Rafah, which Israel has prevented from moving to western Gaza.

The Israeli military said five of its soldiers were wounded but provided no evidence to support the claim. It added that the strikes in Khan Younis targeted a “Hamas operative.”

Gaza Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal rejected Israel’s account, saying the victims were sheltering in a camp considered “safe” and were not in a combat zone.

“How many more massacres must be committed before everyone understands that what is happening in Gaza is not a ‘response to an incident’ but a systematic and direct targeting of civilians?” Basal said.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and targeting troops.

“Our policy is clear: Israel will not tolerate the harming of IDF (Israeli army) soldiers and will respond accordingly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas described Wednesday’s attack as a “blatant war crime” and the latest example of a “flagrant disregard for the ceasefire agreement.” 

The group urged mediators to pressure Israel to halt attacks on civilians and to “rein in the occupation and stop Netanyahu’s government from evading its obligations.”

Second phase 

The escalation on Wednesday came as Hamas and Islamic Jihad handed over the body of a captive buried in Gaza to Israel via the Red Cross.

Israel confirmed the body belonged to Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak.

One remaining captive, police officer Ran Gvili, is still buried in Gaza, with ongoing efforts to locate him and return his body to Israel.

The completion of the handover of captives’ bodies is expected to increase pressure on both Israel and Hamas to move to the next stage of the ceasefire agreement. 

Israel-Turkey rift dampens Gaza force plans as allies get cold feet

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US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the next phase is “going to happen pretty soon,” amid concerns that talks have stalled.

Middle East Eye reported on Tuesday that the US is struggling to establish an international stabilisation force for Gaza, a key component of the second phase, due to disagreements with Israel over Turkey’s participation, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Last month, the UN Security Council approved a resolution to create the force, securing official support from Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Jordan. However, little progress has been made since then, the sources said.

Turkish officials have stated that Ankara is ready to contribute to the force, but Israel has opposed the presence of Turkish troops in the Gaza Strip.

The strikes on Wednesday were the latest in a series of Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, signed in October. 

Nearly 600 breaches have been reported, in which more than 360 people were killed and 900 wounded.

Israel has also continued to block entry and exit for patients and civilians through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in violation of the agreement, and has restricted aid deliveries, allowing only an average of 200 trucks per day out of the 600 agreed.