Israeli fire kills five Palestinians as Trump seeks to advance Gaza peace deal
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Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinians who, according to medics, were killed by Israeli strikes on Jan 21.
PHOTO: REUTERS
CAIRO – Israeli fire killed five Palestinians, including two boys, in central and southern Gaza, the local health authorities said, and the Israeli military said it had “eliminated” a Palestinian militant who posed a threat to soldiers.
Israel and Hamas have traded blame for many breaches of the October 2025 ceasefire US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan
Palestinian medics said three people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed as a result of Israeli tank shelling east of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Two others, a boy, 13, and a woman, were killed in two separate Israeli shooting incidents in eastern Khan Younis in Gaza’s south, they said.
Residents said the two incidents occurred in Palestinian-controlled areas. The ceasefire led to a partial Israeli military withdrawal, leaving Israeli forces holding about 53 per cent of the enclave, but they have been gradually expanding their presence in recent weeks, leading to further displacement of Palestinians, residents told Reuters.
Israel’s military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on both incidents.
On Jan 21, it said in a statement that its forces killed a “terrorist” who entered an area under their control and posed an imminent threat to soldiers operating there.
Israeli soldiers patrol near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Jan 20.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Trump plan struggles to move beyond first stage
The US-brokered October deal has not progressed beyond the first-phase ceasefire, under which major fighting stopped, some Israeli forces pulled back, and Hamas freed hostages in return for Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners.
Under future phases whose details have yet to be hammered out, Hamas would disarm, Israeli forces would withdraw further, and an internationally backed administration would be installed to rebuild the ruined, densely populated territory. But no timetable has been set to implement the plan.
Mr Trump is expected to preside over a ceremony celebrating the Board of Peace on Jan 22, a group he formed with the stated goal of redeveloping the coastal enclave.
Israel says it can only move into the second phase after Hamas hands over the remains of the last Israeli hostage.
On Jan 21, Hamas’ Gaza spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the Islamist group had shared all information it had on the body of the last hostage and searched for it but in vain, blaming what it called Israeli military obstruction.
More than 460 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been reported killed in clashes since the ceasefire took effect.
Israel launched its air and ground war in Gaza after a Hamas-led cross-border attack on Oct 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s assault has killed 71,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health authorities say. REUTERS
