UPDATES DEATH TOLL
By Nour Abuaisha, Ramzi Mahmud, and Ikram Kouachi
GAZA CITY, Palestine / ANKARA (AA) - At least 16 Palestinians were killed and others injured in continued Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Sunday despite Israeli claims of scaling back military operations.
Medical sources and eyewitnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli army targeted residential buildings and tents housing displaced families across various parts of the enclave, which has been facing a two-year-long military campaign.
The attacks came as US President Donald Trump said Friday that he believes Hamas is “ready for lasting peace” and called on Israel to halt the bombing of Gaza immediately to facilitate the release of Israeli captives.
In northern Gaza, five Palestinians were killed in an attack on a civilian gathering near the Labbabidi junction west of Gaza City. Four others were killed in separate Israeli strikes across the city.
One Palestinian was also killed, while others were wounded after Israeli strikes hit the upper floors of several residential buildings on Al-Thalathini Street in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
Four Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid near a US aid distribution point in the Shakoush area northwest of Rafah.
Since May 27, Israel has conducted aid distribution through the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a scheme denounced by the UN and Palestinians as “death traps.”
Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted aid recipients, killing and injuring thousands.
In central Gaza, two Palestinians were killed and others injured while waiting for aid near the Netzarim Corridor.
Additional casualties were reported after Israeli drones dropped explosives on tents for displaced families east of Asda, north of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
On Saturday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that he is ready to implement the first phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, calling for the immediate release of all Israeli captives.
Israeli military and media reports claimed that political leadership had ordered the cessation of Gaza City occupation and “reduction of military activity in the Strip to defensive operations only.”
On Sept. 29, Trump unveiled a 20-point Gaza plan, including the release of Israeli captives within 72 hours of Israel’s approval, a ceasefire, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Tel Aviv estimates that 48 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, including 20 alive. Israel, meanwhile, holds around 11,100 Palestinian captives, many of whom face torture, hunger, and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups.
Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and most of the infrastructure has been reduced to rubble.