Launching An Attack On Gaza, Hamas Accuses Israel Of Violating The Agreed 'Garis Kuning'

Illustration of the Hamas militant group. (Hassan Alzaanin/TASS)

Hamas accused Israel of violating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after its troops launched attacks far beyond the agreed 'yellow line' that separates territory under the control of Israel and Palestine.

Israeli troops attacked the outskirts of Gaza, Zeitoun and Shujaiya, as well as Khan Younis City in the south on Wednesday.

The attack killed at least 32 people, including 12 children and eight women, and 88 others were injured, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave.

Israel "has committed a blatant violation with its ongoing efforts to shift the yellow line to the west every day, resulting in the mass evacuation of our people," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement.

"This yellow line change violates the agreed map in the ceasefire agreement," Qassem added, asking mediators to pressure Israel to immediately stop the breach.

Meanwhile, Gaza's Government media office said Israeli troops entered the eastern region of Gaza City and moved yellow line markers, expanding its territory 300 meters on Al Shaaf, Al Nazzaz and Baghdad roads.

Dozens of families living in the area were trapped by army tank attacks, the media office added.

"The fate of these many families is still unknown in the midst of the shooting targeting the area," he said.

The office added 400 ceasefire violations had been recorded since the agreement came into force on October 10. At least 312 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since then, according to the Ministry of Health.

Separately, the Israeli military said its Wednesday attack was a response to militants who had opened fire on its troops in Khan Younis the day before, although no soldiers had died.

Hamas described Israeli attacks on Gaza City and Khan Younis as "a shocking slaughter". The group denies having opened fire on Israeli troops.

More than 69,500 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched an attack in response to the kidnapping of 251 people by Hamas-led militants and the killings of about 1,200 civilians, in the October 7, 2023 attacks.