Fresh reports from Gaza on Wednesday described the killing of six civilians in airstrikes carried out despite a truce that was meant to halt the devastation of the ongoing genocidal war. Residents and medical teams said the latest fatal incidents occurred in areas already struggling with widespread destruction and an acute humanitarian collapse.

Witnesses from central and southern Gaza spoke of explosions hitting residential zones in Maghazi and Bani Suheila, leaving casualties among families who had tried to remain sheltered. Local medics noted that the deaths occurred in neighbourhoods where no active fighting had been reported, reinforcing concerns that densely populated districts remain exposed despite the supposed pause in operations.

At the same time, military officials in Tel Aviv claimed their forces had killed several members of an armed faction and detained two prisoners in Rafah. Statements from government figures repeated pledges to intensify efforts to target underground routes across Gaza, insisting that these structures would be eliminated “entirely”, even as the truce formally remains in place.

Political groups in Gaza condemned the continued operations, accusing the Israeli authorities of systematically undermining attempts by mediators to stabilise the situation. They argued that efforts over the past month to coordinate safe returns for individuals trapped in Rafah tunnels had been repeatedly blocked, replaced instead by actions described as lethal and punitive.

The groups stated that responsibility for the safety of those underground lies squarely with the occupying authorities and urged international intermediaries to intervene. They characterised their members as symbols of endurance and national identity, asserting that the latest incidents reveal a deliberate attempt to derail any path toward calm.

According to local administrative offices in Gaza, the truce has been breached hundreds of times since it was first announced, with numerous deaths and injuries recorded as a result. Since the beginning of the campaign in October 2023, casualty figures continue to rise dramatically, with tens of thousands killed and many more injured amid the prolonged genocidal war.