16 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Over 48 Hours as Ceasefire Violations Continue
Gaza Casualties Mount Despite Ceasefire
At least 7 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces over the past 48 hours in Gaza. A further nine bodies were recovered from under rubble, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. At least 16 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks or recovered from beneath rubble over the past 48 hours in Gaza, according to health officials. Gaza’s Ministry of Health said on Saturday that hospitals across the besieged enclave had received the bodies of 16 Palestinians, seven of whom had been killed in recent attacks by Israeli forces, while nine were recovered from under the rubble of destroyed buildings. The ministry said that 16 people had been injured over the same period, adding that more victims remain under the rubble as ambulance and civil defence personnel have been unable to reach them. The ministry did not specify the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries. The latest killings come despite Israel and Hamas agreeing to a United States-brokered “ceasefire” in October. Although large-scale fighting has largely paused, Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the enclave have continued. [1]
Cumulative Toll and Ceasefire Violations
According to the ministry, Israeli army violations of the ceasefire have killed 1,066 people and wounded 3,445 others since the truce took effect. The latest casualties bring the overall death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023 to 73,090, with 173,550 others injured, the ministry added. [1]
Palestinians recover bodies from rubble in Gaza after Israeli attacks. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Israeli Expansion and Stalled Negotiations
During the nominal ceasefire, the Israeli military has also continued expanding the area under its control inside Gaza while issuing forced displacement orders. In late May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to expand its control to more than 70 percent of the Gaza Strip. Under the ceasefire deal, the parties were expected to move to a second phase after Hamas released the remaining captives covered by the first-stage deal in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. That phase was meant to include disarmament by Hamas and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. However, negotiations have remained stalled for months, with Hamas’s disarmament and the scope of an Israeli withdrawal continuing to be the main obstacles. [1]
Russian Proposal for Kostiantynivka Handover
Russia has said it is willing to hand over the bodies of fallen service members to Ukraine in Kostiantynivka and proposed a ceasefire in the city. "Russia is willing to conduct a humanitarian action in the form of a handover of bodies of fallen Ukrainian service members in Kostiantynivka. A ceasefire in the city from 12:00 to 18:00 Moscow time on 6 July is proposed to the Ukrainian side. Ukraine must inform the Russian command of its decision regarding the handover of the bodies by 12:00 Moscow time on 5 July." Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin claimed earlier that Russian forces had "captured Kostiantynivka". Ukraine's General Staff later refuted claims that Kostiantynivka has been occupied by Russian troops. DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, had previously noted that Russian forces had reached the outskirts of Kostiantynivka and were continuing to infiltrate the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed a meeting with Putin in Kostiantynivka. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin welcomes Zelenskyy's willingness "to come to Russia for negotiations" and stated that Putin is willing to meet him in Moscow. [2]
Fresh Rebel Offensive in Northern Mali
The Malian army said Saturday that several northern towns, including Gao and Sévaré, were targeted by rebels. The statement came as a rebel group announced a new offensive to capture a town in the country's north. Andrew Lebovich, a research fellow at Clingendael's Conflict Research Unit, said some of the targets were intended more as "diversions" than as primary objectives, unlike strategically important towns such as Anefis. Jihadists and their separatist Tuareg allies hit Mali with fresh coordinated attacks Saturday, striking multiple towns and a prison just months after hobbling the country's military junta with a similar wave of assaults. [3][4]
What to watch next: Russia proposed a humanitarian handover of fallen Ukrainian service members’ bodies in Kostiantynivka along with a temporary ceasefire there from 12:00 to 18:00 Moscow time on 6 July, while coordinated rebel attacks by jihadists and Tuareg separatists struck multiple towns and a prison in northern Mali.
