Israeli forces kill 8 in Gaza, toll now 18 since latest Trump peace plan

What Happened

Israeli forces killed at least eight Palestinians in strikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to Gaza's civil defence. A helicopter strike hit an apartment south of Deir el-Balah, killing a man and a woman; three people were killed in Khan Younis, and one in Gaza City's Old City. On Saturday, an Israeli strike destroyed a medical supply warehouse in central Gaza, leaving a crater 20 metres wide and 10 metres deep. The violence occurred two days after US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace published a 15-point roadmap for implementing a Gaza ceasefire that includes Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal. Hamas said it would hand over weapons only after Israel halts military operations and withdraws, while an Israeli official told Reuters there would be no withdrawal without 'genuine disarmament' by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented, but far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the roadmap unacceptable and insisted Israel keep targeting Hamas leaders. Former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, mediating from the UAE, claimed Jared Kushner told him the US was working with Israel to halt the attacks.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The strikes underscore the deep gap between the US-led ceasefire framework and ongoing hostilities, threatening the viability of the 15-point plan. The continued violence, combined with contradictory preconditions — Hamas demanding a withdrawal before disarmament, and Israel insisting on disarmament before any withdrawal — risks stalling the process indefinitely. Internal Israeli politics, with far-right figures like Ben-Gvir opposing concessions, further complicate the prospect of de-escalation.

Watch For

Whether Israel halts strikes or heeds US efforts to pause operations; any official statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu on the roadmap; specific steps toward implementation or further talks between the US, Israel, and Hamas; and any public reaction from Hamas or other Palestinian factions to the continuing casualties.