Israel accused of hindering Gaza peace deal as it strikes Khan Younis, Nuseirat camp

Hamas criticized Israel early Friday for continuing airstrikes across Gaza, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to obstruct “mediators’ efforts to end the war.”

An Israeli aircraft overnight launched a violent airstrike on Khan Younis in South Gaza, while artillery shelling fell near the Netzarim Axis in north of the Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza.

As the skirmishes continued despite the announcement of the ceasefire, the Israeli army announced that one soldier had died after being shot near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza.

This comes after the Israeli government approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas early Friday morning, paving the way for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and the release of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip within 72 hours.

The Israeli government approved the agreement about 24 hours after mediators announced an agreement to release Israeli prisoners in exchange for Palestinian detainees, as part of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the two-year-old war in Gaza.

Just one day after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack, indirect talks in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh resulted in an agreement on the first phase of the 20-point US plan to end the war in Gaza.