Family Killed While Returning Home in Northern Gaza
At least 11 Palestinians from the same family were killed when an Israeli tank shell hit a civilian bus in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City on Friday night, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence Department.
Officials said the victims, identified as members of the Abu Shaaban family, were attempting to return to their home to assess damage when the vehicle was struck.
This marks the deadliest single incident involving Israeli troops in Gaza since the ceasefire began eight days ago, raising concerns about the fragility of the truce and the safety of civilians attempting to return to conflict-hit areas.
Israeli Military Claims Vehicle Posed Imminent Threat
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that soldiers opened fire on a “suspicious vehicle” that allegedly crossed the “yellow line”, a boundary marking zones still under Israeli military control in Gaza.
According to an IDF statement, troops fired warning shots before targeting the vehicle, claiming it “posed an imminent threat” to soldiers operating nearby.
“The troops acted in accordance with the rules of engagement and the ceasefire agreement,” the military said.
However, Hamas authorities rejected Israel’s explanation, accusing the army of deliberately targeting civilians.
“They were simply trying to return home and check on their property,” Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
He added that the dead included women and children, and called the incident “a grave violation of the ceasefire.”
Confusion Over Gaza’s ‘Yellow Line’ and Civilian Safety
The so-called yellow line has become a source of confusion and tragedy in recent days. The IDF had warned Palestinians not to enter areas beyond the demarcation, but residents say the boundary is not visibly marked, and many civilians are unaware of troop positions due to poor communication networks.
With Gaza’s internet services still limited, families returning to their homes are often doing so without clear knowledge of the ongoing military presence, leading to fatal misunderstandings.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz acknowledged the confusion and announced plans to install visual markers to indicate the limits of military zones in northern Gaza.
Ceasefire Under Strain as Tensions Flare
The fatal bus attack occurred amid a tense ceasefire brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt — the first pause in months of warfare.
Under the agreement, Israeli troops were to hold positions in roughly half of the Gaza Strip while limited humanitarian aid entered the enclave.
The truce has allowed thousands of displaced Palestinians to cautiously return to northern areas, but sporadic clashes and miscommunication have raised fears that the fragile peace could collapse.
Humanitarian groups have urged both sides to exercise restraint and ensure civilian protection during the ceasefire’s implementation.
Hostage and Body Exchanges Continue
In a separate development, Hamas returned the body of Israeli hostage Eliyahu Margalit to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which subsequently handed it over to Israeli authorities.
Margalit was the tenth deceased hostage repatriated under the ceasefire agreement, while the remains of 18 others are still unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Israel handed over 15 Palestinian bodies via the Red Cross on Friday, bringing the total number of returned bodies to 135.
Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the release of more hostages’ remains, while Hamas blames Israel’s continued restrictions on heavy machinery and rescue operations in bombed-out areas.
Human Cost of the Gaza Conflict
Since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and resulted in 251 hostages, Israel has conducted a massive military campaign in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, over 67,900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the war began.
The United Nations continues to regard the ministry’s casualty data as generally reliable.
The ceasefire agreement — part of a U.S.-brokered initiative — also included the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. In return, 20 living hostages were freed by Hamas.
Despite these steps, mistrust remains high, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce through isolated incidents and delayed exchanges.
Aid Operations Suspended Amid Renewed Violence
The latest violence prompted aid groups to suspend some humanitarian operations, citing safety concerns for their staff.
Relief organisations warned that any escalation could jeopardise life-saving assistance to Gaza’s displaced population, where food, water, and medical supplies remain critically low.
International mediators have urged both Israel and Hamas to uphold the ceasefire commitments and prevent further civilian casualties.
However, with sporadic attacks and communication breakdowns continuing, the road to sustained peace in Gaza remains uncertain.
