Israel continues to violate Gaza ceasefire as sick infant dies after exit blocked
Israeli shelling on Gaza continues despite the ceasefire deal signed in October, killing over 600 Palestinians since its start.
According to the latest Palestinian health ministry estimates, at least two Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours.
Local media reported that the army launched seven air strikes early on Sunday, particularly in the southern city of Rafah and east of Gaza City.
Artillery shelling was reported across the Gaza Strip, primarily near areas where Israeli military vehicles are deployed.
Forces fired on civilians north of the besieged enclave, killing a 27 year-old Palestinian woman in Beit Lahia.
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The local news agency Wafa identified the woman as Basma Aram Banat.
Israeli demolitions and the destruction of infrastructure was also reported in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City.
Since the truce deal came into effect, at least 1,700 Israeli violations have been recorded, including the denial of necessary medical treatment and transfers abroad, restriction of aid as well as daily attacks launched across the territory.
Israel has killed 614 Palestinians and left 1,643 others wounded during this period.
Meanwhile, an infant died on Sunday morning due to medical complications from severe liver enlargement. Israel denied Nidal Abu Rabi an exit permit to receive treatment abroad amid the collapse of healthcare systems in the blockaded Strip.
This comes in spite of a recent decision to reopen the Rafah crossing in early February.
The crossing was reopened under heavy Israeli restrictions and monitoring, in the first opening since May 2024.
Recent figures published by Gaza's Government Media Office revealed that Israel had complied with only 33 percent of requests.
Under the new arrangement, 50 Palestinians were meant to be permitted to enter Gaza from Egypt each day, while approximately 150 Palestinians would have been allowed to leave the enclave daily.
Among those seeking to leave Gaza are Palestinians needing medical treatment abroad.
According to the Government Media Office, more than 9,300 wounded and sick Palestinians have died since October 2023 due to the collapse of medical care and Israel's ban on medical evacuations.
In total, Israel has killed more than 72,072 people in the past two years and destroyed nearly 90 percent of the territory's infrastructure.
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