Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza as phase two of ceasefire begins

Friday 16 January 2026 - 17:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza as phase two of ceasefire begins

Israeli airstrikes and gunfire claimed at least 10 Palestinian lives across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, even as the United States announced the start of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending hostilities. The attacks continued into Friday morning, with a 62-year-old woman shot dead in Khan Younes, highlighting the shaky foundation of the October 2025 truce that has now resulted in over 450 Palestinian deaths since its implementation.

Among Thursday's fatalities was Muhammad al-Hawli, whom the Israeli military identified as a commander in Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades. A strike on his family home in Deir al-Balah also killed his wife and daughter, along with at least three others, including a 16-year-old youth, according to Hamas official Oussama Hamdan and Palestinian health authorities. Another airstrike targeted the Nuseirat refugee camp, eliminating Ashraf al-Khatib, a commander in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigades, and his wife.

Israel's military and Shin Bet agency stated the strikes responded to what they described as a blatant ceasefire violation earlier in the week, when armed men exchanged fire with soldiers in western Rafah. The army emphasized it views any breach with utmost seriousness and will continue targeting threats from armed groups in Gaza. Hamas denounced the attack on al-Hawli's residence as an outrageous crime, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to undermine the truce. Hamdan urged President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to hold Israel accountable, placing the onus on them.

On Friday morning, Israeli forces shot and killed Sabah Ahmed Ali Abu Jameh, 62, west of Khan Younes, after military vehicles fired toward tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the coastal Mawasi area, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

These deaths unfolded as Witkoff declared the launch of phase two in Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, shifting from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. A 15-member technocratic committee led by former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath will administer Gaza under a new "Peace Council" chaired by Trump.

Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, Gaza's Health Ministry reports at least 451 Palestinians killed and over 1,250 wounded, averaging nearly five deaths daily. UNICEF notes more than 100 of the dead were children. Al Jazeera's Gaza correspondent reported widespread skepticism among residents. "The situation worsens for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who heard about phase two but see no real changes on the ground," said Ibrahim al-Khalili.

Israeli forces maintain control over nearly 50 percent of Gaza territory behind a shifting "yellow line," while over two million Palestinians endure winter in makeshift shelters or damaged buildings.