ISTANBUL

Two Palestinians were killed and another was wounded by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip on Friday, while army forces destroyed a residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis, in continued violations of a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, medical and local sources said.

A medical source told Anadolu that Mohammed Salah Abu Rukba, 33, was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Zikim area northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, at a location from which the army had previously withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement.

The source added that another Palestinian, Ahmad Imran Al-Qanou, was killed by Israeli fire on Masoud Street in the town of Jabalia, also in northern Gaza, at a site the Israeli army had evacuated under the deal.

In southern Gaza, Israeli forces destroyed a four-story residential building in central Khan Younis at dawn, wounding at least one Palestinian and displacing its residents, according to witnesses and medical sources.

An Anadolu correspondent, citing eyewitnesses, said an Israeli airstrike targeted the building, causing its complete destruction and extensive damage to nearby buildings and tents sheltering displaced families.

Witnesses said the Israeli army had warned the owner of a metal workshop located beneath the building to evacuate before the strike, forcing residents and nearby civilians to flee and remain outdoors.

Medical sources said at least one Palestinian was injured by shrapnel from the strike.

Residents also reported multiple explosions from Israeli demolitions and airstrikes targeting buildings and facilities in areas under Israeli control east of Khan Younis, alongside heavy gunfire from military vehicles and helicopters.

Israeli fire was also reported east of Rafah and in several areas of Gaza City, including an airstrike on an open area in Sheikh Ajleen, southwest of the city, as well as demolitions east of Gaza City and intense gunfire toward eastern Jabalia camp and the Tuffah neighborhood.

Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire deal despite a January announcement by the US administration that the second phase of the agreement had begun. That phase includes additional Israeli withdrawals from Gaza and the launch of reconstruction efforts, which the United Nations estimates will cost about 70 billion dollars.

The ceasefire halted an Israeli offensive that began in October 2023 and lasted more than a year, killing nearly 72,000 Palestinians and wounding more than 171,000 others, while destroying about 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued to violate it, killing 574 Palestinians and wounding 1,518 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

*Writing by Tarek Chouiref