Israeli forces killed at least four Palestinians in separate strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to local medics, underscoring the growing fragility of a ceasefire that has struggled to move beyond its initial phase.
The deaths were reported just hours after Israel’s military said it had struck the site of a failed militant rocket launch inside Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the truce. There was no immediate Israeli response to the reported civilian casualties.
Medical officials said an Israeli airstrike hit a tent in western Khan Younis, killing at least three people and wounding three others, including children. The tent was located in an area where many displaced families have sought shelter after months of fighting.
In a separate incident, another Palestinian was killed east of Khan Younis near an area where Israeli forces are operating, medics said.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported deaths. Earlier on Thursday, it said it had targeted a rocket launch site shortly after a projectile fired from Gaza failed to reach Israeli territory.
In a statement, the Israeli military accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire twice within 24 hours and said it viewed “with utmost severity” any attempt by militant groups in Gaza to attack Israel.
A source from Hamas told Reuters the group was reviewing Israel’s claims. Separately, a Hamas official said the group had documented more than 1,100 alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire since it took effect in October, including airstrikes, shelling, killings, detentions, and home demolitions. The official said Hamas had asked international mediators to intervene.
Israel and Hamas have repeatedly traded blame over ceasefire violations, with each side accusing the other of undermining the agreement.
The ceasefire, brokered in October with U.S. backing, halted major hostilities and led to Israel withdrawing from less than half of Gaza. Under the first phase, Hamas released living hostages and returned human remains in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
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However, negotiations have stalled over subsequent phases of the agreement. Future steps outlined in the U.S.-supported framework include Hamas disarming, further Israeli withdrawals, and the establishment of an internationally backed administration to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.
Since the ceasefire took effect, more than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to figures cited by officials and humanitarian groups. Nearly all of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents are now living in makeshift shelters or damaged buildings within a reduced area where Israeli troops have pulled back and Hamas has reasserted control.
Israel is still awaiting the return of the final body due under the first stage of the ceasefire. An Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not move to the next phase until Hamas hands over the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in Gaza.
Israel has also declined to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt—another condition of the U.S.-backed plan—saying it will do so only after the remains are returned.
