Gaza: Ceasefire Failed for at Least Nine Palestinians

At least nine Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza City, medical sources told Al Jazeera news network, despite the ceasefire agreed between Hamas and Israel. Sources at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital said Israeli soldiers opened fire in the Shujayea neighborhood. The Israeli army said it opened fire to remove a threat posed by people approaching its forces in northern Gaza. The soldiers reportedly fired at "suspects" who were "crossing the yellow line" – the line to which the Israeli military withdrew after the ceasefire agreement took effect on Friday; Palestinians are prohibited from approaching this dividing line, and the army apparently has orders to shoot anyone who violates it.

In addition to exchanging Israeli hostages for approximately two thousand Palestinians held in Jewish state prisons, the first phase of the agreement includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops. The first step is to relocate soldiers from the frontline to the so-called yellow redeployment line. According to a publicized rough map, the yellow line leaves approximately 58% of Gaza under Israeli control. The Israeli government has not committed to fully withdrawing its forces, and the White House document states that Israel can maintain a presence in a buffer zone until there is no longer any "terrorist threat."

Other highly sensitive issues that have not yet been addressed could jeopardize the ceasefire—including Hamas's disarmament, a red line for Israel that the Palestinian group has not fully committed to. Worse still, according to Al Jazzera, tensions between Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza—some supported by Israel—are rising. Last Sunday, the enclave's Interior Ministry said that at least 27 people, including eight Hamas members, were killed in clashes between an armed clan and Hamas security forces. Similar clashes occurred this Tuesday.