Only hours after the Israeli occupation government officially approved the long-awaited ceasefire agreement, Israeli warplanes and artillery forces launched new strikes at dawn Friday on the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, in blatant violation of the declared truce.

According to local sources, Israeli occupation forces targeted the Al-Katiba area in central Khan Yunis with several artillery shells while reconnaissance drones hovered over the city’s skies. Moments later, Israeli warplanes carried out a violent airstrike on the city center, spreading panic among residents who had hoped for a night of calm after months of relentless bombardment.

The attack comes despite the ceasefire officially going into effect after midnight, following the Israeli government’s endorsement of the framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced late Friday that the government had approved the “general framework” for the release of Israeli captives, both dead and alive, and that the ceasefire agreement would take effect immediately.

However, today’s renewed aggression on Khan Yunis has raised serious doubts among Palestinians about Israel’s commitment to the truce. “This is the occupation’s nature,” said one resident of Khan Yunis. “They talk about peace while their planes rain fire on our homes.”

Under the first phase of the Trump-proposed plan, the agreement is meant to bring a complete halt to hostilities, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a comprehensive prisoner exchange involving all captives. The plan was accepted earlier this week by the Palestinian Resistance, including Hamas, which said that its conditions — a total end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal — had been met in the framework.

Nevertheless, the Israeli occupation’s violation of the ceasefire within hours of its activation has deepened Palestinian mistrust. Analysts note that Israel has repeatedly used temporary truces as cover to regroup its forces or continue its campaign of assassinations and destruction under new pretexts.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged what human rights organizations have described as a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been martyred, and nearly 170,000 others wounded, the overwhelming majority women and children.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s famine crisis — a direct result of Israel’s siege — has claimed at least 460 additional lives, including 154 children, as the Strip continues to face shortages of food, medicine, and clean water.

Despite Israel’s continued aggression, the people of Gaza remain steadfast, believing that true peace will only come with justice, freedom, and the end of occupation.

“Our people do not trust their promises,” said a Hamas spokesperson early this morning. “The resistance will remain vigilant until every last soldier leaves our land and every prisoner is free.”

The early hours of the ceasefire have thus laid bare what Palestinians have long known — that Israel’s words of peace cannot silence its weapons of war. (ILKHA)