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By Shane Croucher and Robert Birsel
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had opened fire on a group of people who it claimed had approached them in northern Gaza on Tuesday in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Why It Matters
The ceasefire marks the most significant effort yet toward a lasting agreement, after earlier deals yielded only temporary ceasefires. Any violence is bound to raise fears of it collapsing and will test the durability of the ceasefire and, ultimately, the viability of Trump's plan.
Read More on World
The firing highlights the tense and fragile nature of the ceasefire deal, which is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's historic 20-point peace plan for Gaza and the Middle East.
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What To Know
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the group of individuals had crossed the "Yellow Line" in northern Gaza behind which they withdrew under the first phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas.
In a statement shared on Telegram, an IDF spokesperson said that "a number of suspects were identified who crossed the Yellow Line and approached IDF forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip, which constitutes a violation of the agreement."
"Attempts were made to remove the suspects. The suspects did not respond and continued to approach the forces, and the forces fired to remove the threat," the IDF spokesperson said.
"The reports about terrorists infiltrating the defense are not true. The IDF calls on the residents of Gaza to obey the IDF's instructions and not to approach the forces deployed in the area."
The IDF in its statement, which it also posted on X, did not say how many individuals its troops fired at or what became of them but the Times of Israel cited the IDF as saying five Palestinians had been killed after approaching its forces in Gaza City’s eastern Shejaiya neighborhood.
Newsweek contacted the Ministry of Defense for comment.
The "yellow line" was marked on a map released by the White House last week showing where Israeli troops would withdraw to during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Israeli forces still control about half of Gaza under the plan.
What People Are Saying
The IDF said in statement: "The IDF urges Gaza residents to follow instructions and keep their distance from IDF troops."
What Happens Next
A major worry will be whether the shooting by Israeli forces triggers protests by Palestinian civilians or an armed response from Hamas.
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