Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in southern Gaza on Saturday (8 March) as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to rise. Two individuals were killed in a drone strike in Rafah, while a third was shot by the Israeli army in a neighborhood east of the city. These deaths are part of a series of ceasefire violations committed by Israel since a fragile truce began seven weeks ago. Additionally, Israeli tank fire was reported near the Rafah border crossing, further escalating the situation.
The Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, has indicated it may resume conflict with Hamas if the group does not meet its demands. These include releasing prisoners and agreeing to disarm. Israel has set a deadline for Hamas to comply by Saturday, after which it will take further steps to escalate the conflict. This could involve cutting electricity and water supplies to Gaza and resuming airstrikes, potentially displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had recently returned to northern Gaza.
In addition to Israel’s actions, Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned it will resume military operations against Israel if the blockade on Gaza is not lifted. The Houthis had paused their attacks on Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea in alignment with the ceasefire, but they have now issued an ultimatum. They have given mediators four days to address the blockade or face a resumption of naval operations targeting Israel.
Meanwhile, the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has backed Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan at an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia. The proposal, supported by the Arab League, aims to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents and to form a post-war government. This plan seeks to counter U.S. President Trump’s threat to occupy Gaza and expel its 2.2 million residents. The international community is also calling for full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal, with freed Israeli hostages urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to secure the release of those still held in Palestinian territories.
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