Israeli forces kill one in Gaza as another body recovered from rubble

What Happened

On Saturday, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian east of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) citing medical sources. On Sunday, the Gaza Health Ministry confirmed receiving the bodies of two Palestinians from Israeli attacks, including one recovered from rubble. At least five people, including children, were wounded in separate Israeli actions in Khan Younis and Rafah on Saturday: an Israeli tank opened fire on tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, critically wounding a woman; a girl was seriously wounded by Israeli army fire in the al-Mawasi coastal area of Rafah; Israeli artillery shelled areas east of Khan Younis; and Israeli fire wounded several more in the al-Mahatta area of Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood. The Gaza Health Ministry updated the cumulative death toll since October 2023 to 73,386, with 174,250 wounded, noting many remains are still buried under rubble. Since the October ceasefire took effect, the ministry recorded 1,258 killed, 4,139 wounded, and 807 bodies recovered. In a separate development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that Israel has rejected US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, stating that Israeli forces 'will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed'.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The continued killings and injuries, despite an active ceasefire since October, underscore the fragility of the truce and the persistent violence in Gaza. Netanyahu’s explicit rejection of the US plan signals a deadlock in diplomatic efforts, leaving both the ceasefire’s terms and any timeline for an Israeli military exit in limbo. The accumulation of unrecovered bodies and mounting casualties deepens the humanitarian crisis, while the lack of a viable political framework risks further escalation.

Watch For

Monitor whether Israel proceeds with any partial or full withdrawal from Gaza in the absence of Hamas disarmament, and how Hamas and mediators (Qatar, Egypt, US) respond to Netanyahu’s rejection. Watch for a potential collapse of the ceasefire if military operations intensify or hostage-release negotiations stall. Observe the rate of body recovery and casualty reporting by the Gaza Health Ministry, which may indicate the scale of unverified deaths. Also track any new diplomatic initiatives from the US-led Board of Peace or other international actors to break the impasse.