October 18, 2025 | Gaza City
Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the current truce by killing at least 24 Palestinians since Friday, the group said during a briefing for mediators.
According to Hamas officials, the deaths occurred when Israeli forces opened fire on civilians near ceasefire buffer zones in Gaza City, including a vehicle that crossed into an area under Israeli control. The toll reportedly includes women and children.
Israel’s military has not issued a full public response to the specific allegation but previously stated that troops will open fire if a suspect vehicle “poses an imminent threat” and crosses into restricted areas.
The accusations come as the U.S.-brokered truce faces pressure from several unresolved issues including the delayed handover of hostages’ bodies, a stalled return of Israeli captives, restrictions on aid flows into Gaza, and ongoing debate over how to monitor and enforce the agreement.
Humanitarian agencies warn that despite the ceasefire, life in Gaza remains extremely precarious. Aid trucks are still struggling to reach famine-affected areas, health infrastructure is collapsing, and civilians remain at risk from unexploded ordnance and sporadic fire.
The sharp verbal exchange threatens to erode confidence in the truce and raises questions over whether either party retains sufficient control over frontline units to prevent further deadly incidents. Analysts say that even if the main combat stops, preventing localized flare-ups will require robust mechanisms for accountability and verification.
