Israeli Airstrikes, Artillery Shelling, and Gunfire Hit Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City
Occupation forces continue violations of ceasefire agreement as civilian areas come und
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Israeli occupation forces continued their field violations across the Gaza Strip, carrying out airstrikes, artillery shelling, and direct gunfire against civilian areas, marking the 108th day since the ceasefire agreement came into effect.
The ongoing attacks include the deliberate targeting of residential neighborhoods, fishermen, and unarmed civilians, further undermining any claim of commitment to the ceasefire.
Civilians Shot Dead in Gaza City
A medical source at Al-Maamadani Hospital reported that Israeli forces opened fire on civilians in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, killing two people.
The victims were shot outside areas of Israeli military deployment, confirming that the killings occurred in zones where no direct confrontation or military activity was taking place.
Airstrikes and Heavy Fire in Southern Gaza
In the early hours of Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. The strikes coincided with continuous low-altitude flights by Israeli aircraft, spreading fear and panic among residents.
At the same time, Israeli military vehicles unleashed heavy gunfire west of Rafah, while occupation artillery shelled eastern areas of Khan Younis, escalating the level of ground and aerial aggression in the south of the enclave.
Shelling Across Gaza and Attacks on Fishermen
Israeli artillery also targeted eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City during the morning hours. Field sources reported that Israeli helicopters fired toward eastern areas of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.
In a separate incident, Israeli naval gunboats attacked Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Khan Younis, firing live ammunition and shells in yet another assault on civilian livelihoods in Gaza’s besieged waters.
Warnings of Worsening Humanitarian and Security Conditions
The sustained military escalation comes amid repeated Israeli breaches of the ceasefire agreement, raising serious concerns about further deterioration of Gaza’s humanitarian and security situation.
Air and artillery bombardment, combined with direct gunfire in densely populated areas, continues to endanger civilians already living under siege and devastation.
On the humanitarian front, the chair of Physicians for Human Rights, Lina Qassem Hassan, said that more than 16,500 patients and wounded individuals in Gaza urgently require medical treatment outside the Strip due to the collapse of the local healthcare system.
She noted that around 4,000 of those in need are children, while the patients include cancer sufferers, kidney failure patients, heart disease cases, and people with chronic illnesses.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme confirmed that hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents remain displaced amid dire living conditions.
The WFP stressed the urgent need for the continuous opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid, emphasizing that shelter is a top priority to protect civilians from cold weather and heavy rainfall. The agency also highlighted the importance of expanding cash assistance programs to help families survive the worsening crisis. (PW)