Israel violated ceasefire 47 times, killed 38 Palestinians: Gaza media office
“These violations have included direct gunfire against civilians, deliberate shelling, and arrests,” the office said in a statement
Gaza's media office has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with Hamas 47 times since it came into effect in early October, killing 38 Palestinians and injuring 143 others.
"These violations have included direct gunfire against civilians, deliberate shelling, and arrests," the office said in a statement yesterday, calling it proof of Israel's continued "policy of aggression" despite the declared truce, reports The Guardian.
The statement urged the United Nations and guarantor parties to "intervene urgently" to stop the attacks and protect civilians.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Rafah crossing—a key route for humanitarian aid—will remain closed until Hamas returns the bodies of all deceased hostages held in Gaza. "Its reopening will depend on Hamas fulfilling its obligations," Netanyahu's office said today (19 October).
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the Red Cross had received the bodies of two hostages as part of the ceasefire deal.
One of the deadliest single incidents since the truce began occurred on Friday, when 11 members of a Palestinian family, including seven children and three women, were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood.
Gaza's civil defence agency said the family's bus was hit after allegedly crossing an unmarked "yellow line" that separates Israeli-controlled areas.
"The family likely couldn't distinguish the lines—there are no visible markers," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza's civil defence. The IDF claimed the vehicle was approaching troops "in a way that caused an imminent threat" and that soldiers acted "in accordance with the agreement."
Israel and Hamas have traded accusations over who first breached the truce. Israel says Hamas violated the deal by failing to return all hostages' remains, while Hamas claims it needs specialized equipment to recover bodies still trapped under rubble.
According to Gaza's health ministry, the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 68,000, with around 10,000 bodies believed to be buried under debris across the territory. The devastation is vast, with an estimated 60 million tonnes of rubble obstructing recovery efforts.
Aid agencies warn that humanitarian supplies remain critically scarce as Israel delays the entry of food convoys. Meanwhile, the Palestinian embassy in Egypt announced that citizens in Egypt wishing to return to Gaza will be allowed to cross via Rafah starting Monday.
In a related development, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed one person, despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah that ended more than a year of hostilities last November.
