7 Palestinians killed in Gaza; ceasefire in danger

New Delhi, Oct 14: Seven Palestinians were killed in two separate incidents in Gaza, the Palestinian Civil Defence told the BBC, as fears grew that renewed violence could endanger the fragile ceasefire. According to the Civil Defence, five people died in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood, while two others were killed east of Khan Younis. The Wafa news agency quoted medical sources saying the victims in Shejaiya were residents inspecting their damaged homes when Israeli drones opened fire.

The Israeli military said it fired after “individuals crossed the yellow line”, a buffer zone marking the area from which its troops had withdrawn under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, reports BBC.

The latest violence comes amid growing concern that delays by Hamas in handing over the bodies of Israeli hostages could derail the truce. Meanwhile, aid agencies have described the destruction in Gaza as “devastating”, warning of a “race against the clock” to deliver humanitarian supplies as water, electricity, and healthcare systems remain in collapse. The Red Cross confirmed that its teams, including weapons contamination experts, continue to operate in Gaza to retrieve the remains of deceased hostages and ensure safe handovers. The United Nations said the challenges of bringing aid and beginning reconstruction remain immense, with unexploded ordnance hindering access. The ICRC has called for an urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance, noting that not all border crossings have been reopened. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the next phase of negotiations to consolidate his ceasefire plan was now underway.