Israeli fire kills at least 5 Palestinians in Gaza, a hospital in the enclave says

Israeli troops opened fire across the ceasefire line in northern Gaza on Friday, killing five Palestinians, including an infant, according to local health officials. The incident occurred in Tuffah, an eastern neighborhood of Gaza City, where casualties were received at Shifa Hospital, according to its managing director Rami Mhanna.

The Israeli military acknowledged the incident, stating that soldiers fired upon “suspicious individuals” spotted in command structures west of the Yellow Line—the demarcation established under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement implemented in October. Military officials added that the incident is under review and expressed regret for any harm to “uninvolved individuals.”

This fatal confrontation comes at a critical juncture in the Israel-Hamas truce, which has largely held but faced increasing strain in recent weeks. The ceasefire has entered its third month, though progress toward a more comprehensive peace arrangement has stalled amid mutual accusations of violations.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to advance the peace process continue, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly planning to host high-level officials from countries mediating the Gaza ceasefire at a meeting in Florida. According to a U.S. official, these discussions aim to propel the agreement into its second, more complex phase.

The current ceasefire began in October, shortly after the two-year anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people. That attack also resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, all but one of these hostages have been released—some alive, others deceased—in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.

The conflict in Gaza has exacted a devastating toll on the Palestinian population. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 70,660 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with approximately half of the casualties being women and children. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records that international observers generally consider reliable, though it does not differentiate between militant and civilian casualties in its reporting.

The second phase of the ceasefire agreement presents even greater challenges that must be addressed. These include the deployment of an international stabilization force to maintain security, the establishment of a technocratic governing body to administer Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and further withdrawals of Israeli troops from the territory.

These objectives represent significant hurdles in a region marked by deep mistrust and complex political dynamics. The international community has emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum of peace efforts, despite periodic setbacks like Friday’s deadly incident.

Regional analysts note that the stability of the ceasefire remains precarious, with each violation threatening to unravel months of diplomatic progress. The Yellow Line, established as a buffer between Israeli-controlled areas and the rest of Gaza, has become a flashpoint for tensions, with both sides accusing the other of provocations along this boundary.

Humanitarian organizations continue to express concern about conditions in Gaza, where infrastructure damage from the conflict remains extensive and access to basic necessities remains limited despite the ceasefire. International aid agencies have called for increased access to deliver essential supplies to the civilian population, many of whom have been displaced multiple times throughout the conflict.

As diplomatic discussions continue, the incident in Tuffah serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the current arrangement and the urgent need for progress toward a more durable peace settlement in the region.