Israeli army kills 2 Palestinians in central Gaza despite ceasefire

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GAZA CITY, Palestine/ISTANBUL (AA) – The Israeli army killed two Palestinian brothers on Friday evening in an artillery strike east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, according to medical sources.

The sources told Anadolu that the brothers, Saeed and Masoud al-Ghawash, were killed when they were targeted by an Israeli artillery shell near al-Qastal Towers, east of Deir al-Balah city.

Local sources told Anadolu that the two brothers had crossed what is known as the “yellow line,” a boundary designated by Israel to separate areas under its military presence in the east from those deemed “safe zones” in the west under the ceasefire agreement.

According to the sources, the line has no clear markings on the ground, leaving civilians exposed to direct targeting without warning, despite Israel’s pledges not to strike anyone west of it.

Under the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army partially withdrew to new positions inside Gaza, east of the “yellow line,” which Palestinians refer to as the “temporary withdrawal line.”

Even after its withdrawal to the “yellow line,” the Israeli army still controls 53% of Gaza’s territory, with further pullbacks scheduled to take place in later stages of the deal.

Earlier Friday, the Israeli public broadcaster reported that far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had insisted during a government discussion on targeting Palestinians, including children, who approach the “yellow line” inside Gaza.

A previous statement by Gaza’s Civil Defense said the Israeli army deliberately targets Palestinians who accidentally cross or come close to the line without prior warning, in ways that are intended to kill.

The army has previously killed several Palestinians on the pretext of crossing the “yellow line.”

Since the ceasefire took effect, the Israeli army has committed 80 violations, killing 97 Palestinians, including 44 killed during army breaches last Sunday, according to a statement by the Gaza Media Office on Oct. 19.

The first phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire deal was reached on Oct. 10.

Phase one includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Since October 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has killed over 68,200 people and injured more than 170,300, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

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