Israeli attacks killed two Palestinian children and wounded others in Gaza despite a ceasefire, as Belgium announced a ban on transiting aircraft carrying arms to Israel.

Two Palestinian children were killed and several others wounded on Saturday in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, despite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect in October, according to medical sources and eyewitnesses.

A medical source told Anadolu that two teenagers from the Al-Zawara family, identified as Salman Zakaria (14) and Mohammed Youssef (15), were killed when an Israeli drone dropped a bomb near Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Beit Lahia project area in northern Gaza.

Eyewitnesses said the drone strike occurred in an area from which Israeli forces had previously withdrawn under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Earlier on Saturday, a source in ambulance and emergency services said several Palestinians were injured in an Israeli strike targeting Old Gaza Street in Jabalia, another area vacated by Israeli forces under the agreement, according to Anadolu.

In a separate incident, a medical source reported that a Palestinian man was wounded by Israeli gunfire in the Al-Salateen area of Beit Lahia, also in northern Gaza.

Further south, a medical source said a Palestinian man was injured by Israeli gunfire in central Khan Yunis, after an Israeli quadcopter drone opened fire near the Jasser Building intersection, witnesses said.

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Continued Fire and Shelling across Gaza

According to Quds News Network, Israeli forces continued firing and shelling across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, in what Palestinian sources described as ongoing and blatant violations of the ceasefire.

In northern Gaza, several Palestinians were injured by Israeli shelling on Old Gaza Street in Jabaliya, while another was shot in Beit Lahia. In southern Gaza, Israeli gunfire wounded a Palestinian in Khan Yunis amid intensified shooting and targeting.

Local sources said an Israeli quadcopter drone shot Mu’ayyad Abu Muammar (47) in the head near the Jasser Building junction in central Khan Yunis.

Israeli warplanes also carried out airstrikes on areas southeast of Khan Yunis, which fall within Israeli deployment zones under the ceasefire, while Israeli military vehicles opened fire in the same locations. Israeli naval vessels also fired randomly toward the city’s coastline.

In central Gaza, Israeli artillery shelled areas of Gaza City, with bombardment concentrated around the al-Zaytoun and al-Shuja’iyya neighborhoods. Helicopter gunfire was also reported in those areas.

Heavy gunfire was also reported in eastern parts of the central Gaza governorate, particularly Deir al-Balah and al-Bureij refugee camp.

Palestinian sources said ongoing Israeli ceasefire violations have resulted in the killing of 477 Palestinians and the wounding of 1,301 others since the truce began.

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Mounting Toll

According to Palestinian health authorities, Israel’s military offensive since October 2023 has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded over 171,000, leaving Gaza in ruins.

Despite the ceasefire that began on October 10, Israeli attacks have continued, further deepening the humanitarian crisis across the besieged enclave.

Belgium Bans Transit of Arms to Israel

In a related development, Belgium announced a ban on the stopover and transit of aircraft carrying military equipment to the Israeli army, citing its obligations under international law.

According to Quds News Network, Belgium’s Foreign Ministry said a royal decree has been issued prohibiting the export and transfer of weapons to Israel that could be used in the occupied Palestinian territories.

A spokesperson for the Belgian Foreign Ministry said the decision was taken to avoid contributing to the worsening situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

“We are doing everything possible to avoid contributing to the escalation,” the spokesperson said.

The decision follows sustained public pressure in Belgium, where tens of thousands have taken part in large demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. Some protests reportedly drew crowds of up to 120,000 people.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib had previously criticized the European Union for failing to meet its responsibilities over the war on Gaza, warning that the bloc’s foreign policy credibility was at risk due to internal divisions.

Belgium has already imposed a series of economic, consular, and other measures against Israel, as well as sanctions targeting two far-right ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, both of whom are wanted by the International Criminal Court, according to Quds News.

(PC, AA, QNN)