Israeli military Fires on bus in Gaza, Killing Nine Members of One Family
Gaza City – Israeli forces opened fire on a bus in Gaza on Friday, killing nine Palestinians, including members of the same family, according to reports from the Israeli military and Palestinian residents. The incident occurred as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza following a ceasefire with Hamas, seeking to assess the damage to their homes after years of conflict.
The Israeli military stated that a vehicle was observed crossing the “yellow line”-a demarcated boundary established under the ceasefire agreement-and was initially met with warning shots. When the vehicle continued to approach Israeli troops, posing what they described as an “immediate threat,” soldiers fired to “eliminate the threat.” The shooting underscores the fragility of the week-old truce and raises concerns about the safety of returning civilians navigating a landscape devastated by extensive destruction.
According to the military’s statement,”The troops fired warning shots at the suspicious vehicle,but the vehicle continued to approach the troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat to them.” They added, “The troops opened fire to eliminate the threat, in accordance with the agreement.”
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entered its second week on friday,but several incidents have been reported as its implementation,with Israeli forces claiming to have fired upon individuals approaching or crossing the ”yellow line.” the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza has been hampered by widespread devastation, with many finding their homes reduced to rubble. Several residents told AFP they were unable to locate their properties amidst the extensive damage.