Israeli Airstrike Kills Three in Central Gaza Despite Ceasefire

An Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinians, including a child, in central Gaza on Monday, according to Gaza's health ministry, highlighting continued violence despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire that has officially been in effect since October. The latest incident underscores the fragile security situation in the Gaza Strip as both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the truce.

The strike reportedly occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time in Deir al Balah, a city in central Gaza controlled by Hamas. An Israeli military official confirmed that an airstrike had been conducted but did not provide additional details regarding the target or operation. Israel currently maintains control over roughly 60% of the Gaza Strip.

According to Gaza's health ministry, 12 Palestinians, including eight men and four children, have been killed by Israeli military actions since Saturday. The rising casualty toll comes amid ongoing tensions despite months of ceasefire efforts.

Violence also continued in the occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian health ministry said a Palestinian teenager was shot and killed by Israeli forces during a military raid in the town of Al-Bireh. The Israeli military said it is reviewing the incident, adding that soldiers opened fire after a suspect allegedly threw rocks at them.

On Sunday, the Israeli military announced it had killed a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza. Israel alleged the militant participated in the October 7, 2023, attack by abducting Israeli civilians, an event that triggered the latest war between Israel and Hamas.

Since the ceasefire agreement was reached last October, Israel has continued carrying out targeted military strikes in Gaza, saying the operations are aimed at militants who threaten Israeli troops or were involved in the 2023 attacks. Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire, while Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace envoy to Gaza appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has stated that both Israel and Hamas have violated the agreement.

According to figures released by both sides, 1,045 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect eight months ago. Hamas has not publicly disclosed the number of militant fatalities during that period. The continued exchanges of violence have raised concerns about the long-term stability of the ceasefire and the prospects for a lasting peace in the region.