Israeli forces kill seven Palestinians, breaching Gaza ceasefire

At least seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were killed by Israeli forces, in what observers described as a clear violation of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Middle East Eye plus agencies reported on October 14th.

Local health officials said six people were killed in Gaza City and one in Khan Younis. In Gaza City’s eastern Shujaiya neighbourhood, at least five people died when an Israeli airstrike hit residents inspecting the ruins of their homes. A separate drone attack in the town of al-Fukhari, east of Khan Younis, killed another person.

The ceasefire, brokered to halt all military operations, including aerial and artillery strikes, had taken effect on October 10th. Yet the Israeli military said it had conducted the Shujaiya attack, alleging it targeted people who had entered restricted deployment lines. It did not provide a statement concerning the strike in Khan Younis.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denounced the assaults as a breach of the ceasefire, urging international mediators to hold Israel accountable for commitments made under the truce.

The renewed violence followed the United Nations Commission of Inquiry’s September 16th report, which concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

The commission, led by former ICC judge Navi Pillay, cited mass killings, obstruction of humanitarian aid, forced displacement, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure as evidence that “genocide is occurring in Gaza.” Israel rejected the findings as “scandalous,” and called the inquiry biased.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Former Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi has suggested the casualty toll exceeds 200,000.

Beyond Gaza, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank continue to face the dismantling of cultural and community spaces. It was reported on October 12th, that an Israeli court approved the demolition of the Youth of Sumud Centre in At-Tuwani, which was met with appeals from residents. The ruling reflects a broader pattern of cultural erasure under Israeli occupation.

Regional actors such as Egypt have warned that ongoing violations and the exclusion of Palestinian leadership from governance plans risk destabilising any future peace framework. The recent ceasefire breach and the UN genocide finding illustrate a sustained disregard for international norms, even as global pressure for accountability grows.

Middle East Eye plus agencies, Maghrebi.org