West Jerusalem and Hamas have exchanged accusations regarding the violation of a ceasefire established last October, which aimed to end two years of conflict. This truce has left Israeli troops in control of a largely depopulated area that constitutes over half of Gaza, while Hamas continues to govern the remaining narrow coastal strip.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that two truck drivers, contracted to deliver clean water to families in Gaza, were killed by Israeli fire. Following the incident, UNICEF suspended its activities at the site and urged West Jerusalem to investigate. The attack occurred during routine water transport on Friday morning at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza, which supplies water to Gaza City. Additionally, two other individuals were injured in the attack. UNICEF expressed outrage over the deaths of the drivers, emphasizing that the targeted water filling point is the only operational site on the Mekorot water supply line, serving hundreds of thousands of people, including children, in Gaza City. Israeli officials have not yet commented on the incident.
This accusation arises amid an ongoing truce between Israel and Hamas, which was brokered last October to halt extensive hostilities. Both parties have consistently blamed each other for violations of the ceasefire. Since the agreement took effect, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported that over 750 Palestinians have been killed. In contrast, West Jerusalem has stated that four Israeli soldiers lost their lives in a Hamas attack. Gazan authorities have also reported multiple civilian casualties within a single week. On Thursday, a local civil defense agency indicated that Israeli fire resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including one child, across various locations in the Palestinian territory. Earlier this week, health authorities reported the deaths of eleven civilians, including a 14-year-old child.
Despite the truce, UN agencies and humanitarian monitors have documented ongoing fatalities among aid workers and volunteers in Gaza. Earlier this month, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk described the number of journalists and humanitarian personnel killed in Gaza as “unprecedented.” The conflict between Israel and Hamas, along with the siege of Gaza, has drawn increasing international criticism, including threats of sanctions. Additionally, Israel has experienced a decline in Western support amid rising casualties and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
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