Ceasefire breached: Israel kills 3 Palestinians, extends detention of top doctor

GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) —Israeli forces continued breaching ceasefire by killing at least three Palestinians in fresh attacks, bringing the toll since the truce began to 23, health officials say.

Meanwhile, Israel’s decision to prolong detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a prominent figure in Gaza’s health sector, without trial has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates.

One man was fatally shot in the eastern Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

In Khan Younis, Israeli quadcopter drones dropped bombs on Bani Suhaila, killing another individual. A third person earlier died in a separate Israeli strike. In the occupied West Bank, gunfire wounded one in the town of al-Ram, according to the Palestine Red Crescent via Wafa.

The Health Ministry reported that hospitals received 29 bodies in the past 24 hours — 22 retrieved, three who died of wounds, and four killed in new attacks.

Cumulatively, 67,967 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 wounded since the war began on October 7, 2023. The ministry has confirmed that at least 23 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire took effect.

In parallel to the violence, a major legal and human rights development is unfolding: an Israeli court has approved a six-month extension of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s detention without charge or trial, under the Unlawful Combatants Law, according to the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.

Criticism was swift. “This decision strips away any pretense: Dr. Abu Safiya is a hostage, a bargaining chip in ongoing negotiations,” Al Mezan said in a statement.

Abu Safiya — formerly director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia — was arrested by Israeli forces in December 2024, when the hospital was stormed. He and dozens of other medical staff have been held without formal charges ever since.

According to Al Mezan and Front Line Defenders, he has been denied adequate legal access, suffered severe decline in health, and was reportedly subjected to harsh conditions during interrogations.

During the court hearing, prosecutors submitted a secret file alleging he posed a security threat; however, his defense was denied access to the material. The court upheld the detention on the grounds of that classified evidence.

Prior to his arrest, Kamal Adwan Hospital served as one of the last functioning medical centers in northern Gaza. Abu Safiya, a pediatrician and neonatologist, refused to evacuate it despite repeated bombardments and calls to abandon the hospital. His son was killed in a drone attack on hospital grounds days before his final arrest.

The court’s extension comes even as Abu Safiya was expected by some to be included in the list of Palestinian captives to be released as part of the ceasefire deal — a move that did not materialize. His removal from that list triggered widespread condemnation.

Israel’s defense minister has ordered the military to prepare a “comprehensive plan” to defeat Hamas should the truce collapse.

Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says Israel continues to block deliveries of food, medicine, and other aid, despite being obligated to allow humanitarian access under the ceasefire.

Government Media Office estimates that between 65 and 70 million tonnes of rubble and debris now blanket the strip — the result of relentless bombardment over the past year.

The office said the destruction includes “thousands of homes, facilities, and vital infrastructure,” severely complicating relief delivery and effective reconstruction.