The Gaza Government Media Office reports that Israel has breached the United States-mediated Gaza ceasefire at least 497 times over a span of 44 days, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian deaths since the truce began on October 10. According to the office, 342 civilians have been killed, with children, women, and elderly people making up most of the victims.
In a statement released Saturday, the office strongly condemned what it described as Israel’s “ongoing, serious, and systematic violations” of the agreement. It added that such actions represent clear violations of international humanitarian law and the humanitarian protocols included in the ceasefire terms.
The office noted that 27 violations occurred on Saturday alone, causing the deaths of 24 people and injuring 87 others. It also stressed that Israel bears full responsibility for the humanitarian and security consequences resulting from these repeated breaches.
Despite the ceasefire conditions, Israeli forces continue to block essential humanitarian and medical aid from entering Gaza, worsening the situation in the heavily damaged strip.
On Saturday, the Israeli military carried out another series of air raids across Gaza, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including children. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the military strikes followed an incident in which a Hamas fighter allegedly attacked Israeli soldiers inside Gaza’s “yellow line” zone.
‘A Ceasefire in Name Only’
Hamas demanded that Israel reveal the identity of the fighter involved in the incident. Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas political bureau member, urged the mediators — including the United States — to pressure Israel to honor the agreement and verify its claims.
He accused Israel of inventing excuses to avoid implementing the deal, saying it “violates the agreement daily and systematically.” Al-Risheq also rejected reports suggesting that Hamas had withdrawn from the ceasefire.
Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from Gaza City that the truce exists “in name only,” explaining that Israeli forces have continued to launch air strikes despite the announced pause. These actions, he said, have shattered any sense of safety for Palestinians and created the perception that the ceasefire is being treated as a temporary repositioning rather than a true commitment.
Local authorities said dozens of families in northern Gaza remain “besieged” as Israeli forces push deeper into the enclave in defiance of the ceasefire terms.
Under the agreement, the “yellow line” marks an unofficial zone where Israeli troops were expected to reposition when the deal took effect last month. However, Israel has maintained control of more than half of the territory and continues to fire on Palestinians approaching the area.
Hamas accused Israel on Saturday of expanding beyond the yellow line “using fabricated justifications” and urged mediators — the US, Egypt, and Qatar — to intervene without delay.