UPDATE - 7 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza despite ceasefire

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, REVISES DECK

By Ramzi Mahmud, Betul Yilmaz and Rania Abu Shamala

GAZA CITY, Palestine / ISTANBUL (AA) – Seven Palestinians were killed and others injured in Israeli airstrikes in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday despite a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, medical sources said.

The sources said five people lost their lives when a fighter jet struck a coffee shop in a residential area in western Al-Zawayda, where a number of hospitals and tents sheltering displaced civilians are located.

Two more Palestinians were killed in another strike targeting the vicinity of the “Al-Ahli Club” in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Witnesses said two more people were injured in another attack on a displacement tent west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

The attack came shortly after the army launched airstrikes in Rafah in southern Gaza after, allegedly, its troops came under missile attacks and gunfire in the area. Hamas has denied any involvement in the attack.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee urged Palestinian residents in a statement to remain only on the western side of the yellow line, which defines Israeli troop withdrawal under the US-sponsored ceasefire deal.

Adraee published a map showing two color zones — yellow and red — warning civilians against being east of the yellow line, in the area marked in red.

The Israeli army described the red-marked area as a “highly dangerous combat zone,” according to the statement.

The ceasefire and hostage swap agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 8, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump. Phase one included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Since October 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has killed nearly 68,200 people and injured more than 170,200, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.