The ceasefire is becoming increasingly fragile. New Israeli attacks were carried out in the Gaza Strip as well as in southern Lebanon, even though the ceasefire agreement was still in effect.
In the Palestinian territories, the local Civil Defense, a first aid organization operating under Hamas authority, reported three people killed in Gaza City (north), three in Deir al-Balah (center) and one death in the Nousseirat area (center).
The Israeli army almost simultaneously issued a statement claiming to have killed “armed terrorists” in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. According to him, he had fired at his soldiers and crossed the line marking his position.
Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed dozens of people since Wednesday according to local authorities, and Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas accuse each other of violating a fragile ceasefire in place since October 10.
The war in Gaza was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that led to the deaths of 1,221 people on the Israeli side, the majority of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data. More than 69,500 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s military retaliation campaign, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon
In Lebanon, the Israeli army announced that it had “struck several Hezbollah launchers recently identified and installed at military sites in southern Lebanon.” This attack occurred in the Bekaa plain, according to an Israeli military press release.
Israel has recently stepped up its attacks in southern Lebanon, saying it is targeting Iran-backed groups, which it accuses of rearming in violation of a ceasefire that took effect on its northern border in November 2024.
Lebanese authorities often accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire by continuing its attacks on their territory and continuing to occupy five strategic points in the south of the region.
According to the Health Ministry, more than 330 people have been killed in Lebanon and 945 injured since the ceasefire took effect.
The United States is trying to pressure the Lebanese government to force Hezbollah to hand over its weapons in accordance with a ceasefire agreement, something the group has so far refused to do.
