Israeli forces killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, a day before President Trump will convene the so-called “Board of Peace,” which is meant to oversee the ceasefire that the IDF has constantly violated.
According to an Al Jazeera correspondent, a child was killed by an Israeli drone in northern Gaza when it targeted a group of Palestinians attempting to reach the ruins of their destroyed homes.
In southern Gaza, a 20-year-old man, Muhand Jamal al-Najjar, was killed by Israeli army fire near the Bani Suheila roundabout east of Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. At least three Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire in central Gaza and in the al-Mawasi tent camp in the south.
Also on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers was killed in an incident of “friendly fire” in southern Gaza.
The latest Israeli attacks came on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and photos from Gaza show Palestinians gathering to break their fast among the rubble.
Israel has launched daily attacks in Gaza despite the US-backed ceasefire deal and the Trump administration’s declaration that the “second phase” of the truce has started. According to the latest numbers from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which were released on Monday, Israeli forces have killed at least 603 Palestinians and wounded 1,618 since the ceasefire deal was signed in early October.
President Trump is expected to announce during the “Board of Peace” meeting on Thursday that several countries have chipped in to pledge $5 billion to go toward rebuilding Gaza, but the US and Israel continue to prevent reconstruction from taking place in the Hamas-controlled side of Gaza, where the vast majority of Palestinian civilians are currently living.
Israel is preparing a new offensive if Hamas doesn’t disarm, and, according to Israeli media, a renewed full-scale Israeli bombing campaign is expected to be more intense than before since there are no longer Israeli hostages inside Gaza.
