Israeli forces launched fresh attacks on the Gaza Strip Monday, killing at least two people in a drone strike on the southern city of Rafah. Relatives who gathered to mourn the dead condemned Israel for once again violating its ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Najah al-Shaer: “How do they say there is a truce? Where is the truce while they are killing people? He went to see his house next to al-Amina station, and they killed him.”
Separately on Monday, an Israeli helicopter attack in Khan Younis left three Palestinians injured. Israel’s latest ceasefire violations came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reimposed a total blockade on Gaza, hours after the first phase of the ceasefire deal expired. Palestinian officials condemned the renewed siege, saying the use of starvation as a tool of war is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The cutoff of aid drew condemnation across the Arab world and from countries including Canada, Germany, Spain and Turkey. On Monday, the U.S. State Department said Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is headed to the region to broker an extension to the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal or to advance to the second phase.