Israeli artillery fire hits multiple areas in Gaza, despite ongoing ceasefire

GAZA, Palestine/ISTANBUL

Israeli artillery targeted multiple areas across the Gaza Strip early Friday in zones where the Israeli military maintains control and deployment under a ceasefire agreement, local sources told Anadolu.

Local sources said Israeli artillery targeted several locations east of Gaza City within areas under Israeli military control.

The sources added that Israeli artillery also targeted separate areas north of the southern city of Rafah, which they said remains fully under Israeli control.

Israeli military vehicles also fired randomly east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the sources said.

Since the ceasefire came into force, Israeli forces have killed 477 Palestinians and wounded 1,301 others in alleged violations of the agreement.

The ceasefire ended a war that began in October 2023 and lasted about two years, killing more than 71,000 Palestinians and wounding over 171,000 others. The war caused widespread destruction, with about 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and reconstruction costs estimated by the UN at roughly $70 billion.