Despite ceasefire, Israeli soldiers shoot at civilians in Gaza Strip

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli occupation forces continue to shoot and bomb the Gaza Strip.

On the morning of January 28, it was reported that residents were hit by soldier fire as displaced people returned to their homes near the Khalil al-Nubani school in the Zaytoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City. The Wafa news agency also reported that soldiers fired at residents in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

On January 27, Al-Awda Hospital announced that the child Nada Muhammad al-Modi (5 years old) was killed and three others were injured in the Jasser area west of Al-Nusairat camp, due to a bomb attack on a place where displaced people were staying.

The Israel Defence Forces also reported that an Air Force drone attacked a vehicle with several passengers that was passing through an area in the center of the Gaza Strip that is not permitted for Gazans to cross according to the ceasefire outline. Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that a man operating a bulldozer was killed in a drone attack west of Nussirat in the Gaza Strip.

On January 28, tens of thousands of Palestinians were making their way to the north of the Gaza Strip for the second day. The agreement to release the hostages and the ceasefire stipulated that there would be no checks on foot marchers, but only on vehicles traveling north.

According to a report published on the “Wynet” website, the inspection system has been privatized in favour of an American corporation whose personnel are veterans of elite units and security services who served in war zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan, have extensive combat experience, and some speak Arabic.

They stand at the checkpoints armed. There are about 100 security guards, who live in a hotel in the south of the country that serves as their base of operations. They all operate under a mandate given to them by the mediators – the US, Qatar and Egypt – who also pay them. An Egyptian security company is also stationed in the outer circle, which carries out the initial inspection and questioning of the Gazans who arrive at the crossing, and secures the compound.

Trump again suggests ethnic cleansing

On January 27, US President Donald Trump repeated his proposal for ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to countries including Egypt and Jordan. Speaking to reporters, Trump said that he had earlier spoken with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the subject. “I want them to live in an area where they can live without disturbances, without revolutions.” “When you look at the Gaza Strip, it’s been hell for so many years.”

Trump added that he is convinced that al-Sisi would be willing to accept displaced people from the Gaza Strip into his country. “He’s a friend of mine,” he said, “He’s in a very difficult part of the world, to be honest. As they say, it’s a difficult neighbourhood. But I think he will do it, and I think the King of Jordan will do it too.”

The governments of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority initially refused to accept Trump’s proposal.

Zo Haderekh

[Photo of people returning to northern Gaza: Wafa]


Support working-class media!

If you found this article useful, please consider donating to People’s Voice or purchasing a subscription so that you get every issue of Canada’s leading socialist publication delivered to your door or inbox!

For over 100 years, we have been 100% reader-supported, with no corporate or government funding.

Sign up for regular updates from People's Voice!

You will receive email notifications with our latest headlines.