Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza for a second straight day on Sunday, killing at least nine Palestinians, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a breakthrough in efforts to implement last year’s Gaza ceasefire agreement, reports BritPanorama.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated on Sunday that there was no agreement to halt attacks on Gaza and emphasized the need for Israel, which already controls 70% of the Strip, to assume full control.
Cohen is a member of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet, a small group overseeing security and diplomatic policy.
Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli warplanes executed strikes across the enclave, targeting northern Gaza City, the central city of Deir al-Balah, and the southern region of Khan Younis.
A couple and their four children were among the casualties from an airstrike on an apartment in Deir al-Balah, while two others, including a child, died in a separate strike on an apartment in Gaza City.
A father, mother, and their 9-year-old son were killed around dawn after an airstrike hit their house in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Another individual died near Jabalia in northern Gaza.
The Israeli military indicated that the airstrikes in Deir al-Balah aimed at two commanders of Hamas’ elite “Nukhba” force, while those in Gaza City and Jabalia targeted “military operatives.” The military is still assessing the situation.
Since the ceasefire was established last October, at least 1,230 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli operations.
Trump asserted that there had been a breakthrough after Hamas consented to disarm under a U.S.-backed initiative to implement the ceasefire agreement from last year, reached in Egypt.
The U.S.-led Board of Peace, tasked with overseeing the ceasefire, released a 15-point roadmap on Friday outlining the final steps for its implementation.
Roadmap yet to be implemented
However, the roadmap remains unimplemented. Hamas has stated it would only relinquish its weapons for storage after Israel halts military operations and withdraws its forces, as stipulated in last year’s agreement. An Israeli official mentioned that there would be no movement from the military’s current positions unless Hamas demonstrates “genuine disarmament.”
Cohen expressed skepticism that Hamas would disarm, suggesting it would instead seek to conceal its weaponry.
Netanyahu has yet to publicly respond to the initiative, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned it as unacceptable and advocated for continued operations against Hamas leaders. Former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, currently in the UAE, claimed in a Facebook post that Jared Kushner, a key adviser involved in the U.S. initiative, had communicated he was coordinating with Israel to halt attacks on Gaza.
Dahlan added that discussions with the U.S. were ongoing to ensure full implementation of the agreement, emphasizing that its success hinges on Israel ceasing its daily strikes on Gaza.
Reuters has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment regarding Dahlan’s statements. There has been no immediate response from Israel.
