Violence in the Gaza Strip reached its highest weekly level this month since the ceasefire between the Israeli army and armed movements operating in the Palestinian enclave came into effect on 10 October under US pressure, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The number of such incidents, including gunfire, bombardments and attacks, increased by 46 per cent during the week from 12 to 18 April compared with the previous week, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, during a briefing for accredited journalists at UN headquarters in New York.
It is the highest total recorded since the ceasefire began, Dujarric said, citing data from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Asked to comment, the Israeli army said it was reviewing the statements.
Its forces continue to occupy roughly half of the Gaza Strip, while the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has re established control over the remainder.
Hamas is demanding that Israel halt its attacks on the small coastal territory and allow increased quantities of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza before agreeing to move to what is described as the second phase of the plan for Gaza presented by US President Donald Trump. The movement also continues to reject the plan’s provision for its disarmament.
At least 770 Palestinians have been killed since the fragile ceasefire came into force, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas led administration in Gaza.
The Palestinian enclave suffered enormous destruction during the war that erupted on 7 October 2023, when the Islamist movement attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli data.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since killed at least 72,549 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the latest available toll released on Saturday by the Hamas Health Ministry, figures which the United Nations considers reliable.
Source: CNA