Israel kills 19 in Gaza despite Trump peace plan
Photo: REUTERS
Israeli forces killed at least 19 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, even as US President Donald Trump hailed a new peace plan as a “monumental step” toward regional security.
Medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed that an airstrike on a residential apartment in western Gaza City’s Al-Sousi Tower claimed the lives of 33-year-old Abdullah Abu Taif, his pregnant wife Abeer Anan, 29, and their son Azzam, 5.
The violence extended to al-Qarara, northwest of Khan Younis, where an attack on an apartment killed three members of the Al-Hams family, including 38-year-old Mahmoud, his 37-year-old wife Fatima, and their young daughter, while leaving three others wounded.
Near Deir el-Balah, medics reported that an assault on a home killed Kamu Abu Muailiq, 68, and his wife Huda, 59, while a separate strike in the same area killed two brothers traveling on a motorcycle. In northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, a direct target resulted in another Palestinian fatality.
In the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, an Israeli strike on a tent killed one person and injured five others.
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone targeted a tent for displaced people in Gaza City’s Remal neighborhood, killing two, while another strike on a vehicle in the city killed four more individuals.
According to Palestinian health officials, these attacks since dawn represent the largest daily death toll in several weeks.
On Saturday, Israeli forces struck medicine warehouses connected to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah. Gaza Health Ministry Director-General Munir al-Bursh condemned the action, saying that destroying supplies “turns medicine and illness itself into a tool of war.”
The strike occurred just 15 minutes after an evacuation order, causing a new wave of displacement among those sheltering in nearby tents.
Israeli warplanes have hit residential buildings and civilian gatherings at low altitudes without prior warning over the last 48 hours.
While Israel claims these are legitimate targets due to the presence of Hamas members, the strikes came without any warning or evacuation orders for the residents living in the targeted areas and. These events follow strikes on Friday and Saturday that killed at least eight more people.
This escalation coincides with an announcement from Trump and oversight entities regarding an agreement to implement the next phase of a 20-point Gaza peace plan, which Hamas has reportedly accepted.
However, Palestinians argued that continued military actions and aid restrictions have made the ceasefire “an illusion”.
Academic and Israeli affairs expert Mohanad Mustafa told that Israel views these agreements as non-committal, saying, “All these agreements were imposed on Israel. Israel did not want to go to settlements or agreements. They were imposed on Israel by another party, particularly the United States.”
Mustafa added, “Israel gives different interpretations to the agreement at the level of terminology and clauses,” which leads to violations.
Israel has raised several objections to the US regarding the roadmap, specifically challenging the link between Hamas’s disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, told that Israel will not withdraw until Hamas fully surrenders its weapons, claiming the group intends to “rebuild its military capabilities rather than permanently demilitarise.”
Morever, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Israel’s Army Radio that no agreement requires a suspension of attacks during negotiations and argued for full Israeli control of Gaza if the process fails.
Hamas countered by accusing Israel of intensifying attacks to sabotage the ceasefire understandings. Amid the conflict, Board of Peace lead envoy Nickolay Mladenov said mediators are working “around the clock” to facilitate the roadmap’s implementation.
Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)
