Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling on Sunday claimed the lives of nine Palestinians, including civilians, and injured many others across the Gaza Strip, defying the much-anticipated ceasefire agreement scheduled to take effect this morning.

Local sources reported that five civilians were killed in the Sha’af neighborhood of eastern Gaza City when an Israeli drone struck the densely populated area. Medical officials confirmed the casualties, with many of the injured in critical condition.

In the northern town of Beit Lahiya, four more Palestinians lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries in relentless Israeli artillery shelling.

The southern regions of Rafah and Khan Younis also came under heavy fire as Israeli forces targeted civilians attempting to return to their homes, which have endured continuous shelling since early morning.

Eyewitnesses reported Israeli military vehicles firing indiscriminately in the eastern neighborhoods of Shujaiya and Zeitoun in Gaza City, escalating fears and displacement among the already traumatized population.

These attacks come despite a ceasefire agreement brokered to take effect at 8:30 AM local time. However, Israeli authorities delayed its implementation, citing procedural issues over a list of Palestinian female prisoners designated for release.

Palestinian officials and human rights groups have condemned the delay, accusing Israel of using the prisoner list as a pretext to continue its military aggression.

The latest escalation underscores the fragile and volatile nature of ceasefire agreements in Gaza, as Palestinians continue to face indiscriminate violence and aggression even during supposed truces. The international community has yet to hold Israel accountable for repeated violations of agreements, further emboldening its actions against the Palestinian people.

As Gaza mourns its latest victims, calls for justice and protection grow louder. Palestinian officials have urged global leaders to pressure Israel into honoring ceasefire commitments and ending the ongoing occupation and systemic violence.

For the people of Gaza, the path to peace remains distant, with each ceasefire shattered by further bloodshed and destruction. (ILKHA)