Strikes Target Civilian and Military Sites

Gaza’s Civil Defence Authority reported that Israeli military aircraft conducted attacks on Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir el-Balah. This marked the second consecutive night of Israeli strikes on the territory, which has been under 70% Israeli control since the supposed ceasefire last October.

An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson stated that the strikes targeted military operatives, with two Hamas militants killed. The IDF also announced the killing of two Hamas commanders, one from the elite Nukbha force and one from the Maghazi Battalion. Another Hamas militant from the Jabalia Battalion was reportedly killed in a separate attack last week. The IDF claimed all three were planning attacks on Israeli targets.

Disarmament Plan in Question

On Friday, Trump announced that the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. He described the deal as a “big step for the Middle East” and said Israel was “very happy” with the proposed agreement.

However, Israeli officials have expressed skepticism. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir dismissed the draft deal as “not acceptable.” Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen added that no deal had been reached to stop attacks on the Gaza Strip, and he emphasized the need for full Israeli control of the territory if Hamas did not disarm.

The disarmament plan is part of a broader US-brokered ceasefire proposal announced last September. The 20-point plan includes the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee the agreement’s implementation, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the reconstruction of Gaza. A 15-point roadmap published on Friday outlines final steps for the agreement, including the inventory and storage of heavy weapons, military production sites, weapons depots, and tunnels.

Humanitarian and Military Impact

Palestinian health officials reported that two people, including a child, were killed in a strike on a residential building in Gaza City. In northern Gaza, another person was killed near Jabalia. In Khan Younis, a father, mother, and their nine-year-old son were killed by a strike on a house. In Deir el-Balah, a man and woman died after their apartment block was struck.

Since the supposed ceasefire began in October 2023, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed. Satellite images analyzed by BBC Verify showed that Israel has destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in areas of Gaza under its control since the ceasefire. The actual number is likely higher, as some areas remain unmonitored. According to UN estimates, around 60 million tonnes of debris has been generated since October 2023.

The Palestinian National Committee, a group of independent technocrats to which Hamas has agreed to hand over power, has yet to enter Gaza and has been working from Cairo. The details on how weapons will be handed over to the Board of Peace remain unclear, though it is believed that heavy weapons and military hardware will be moved into storage and managed by the committee.