Israel fires mortar into Gaza residential area, wounding at least 10
By Associated Press, December 18, 2025Israeli troops fired a mortar shell over the ceasefire line into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
Health officials said at least 10 people were wounded, while the Israeli military said it was investigating the incident.
The military said the mortar was fired during an operation near the “Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement and divides the Israeli-held majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory.
It did not say what troops were doing in the area or whether they had crossed the line. The army said the mortar veered off course from its intended target, which it did not specify.
Fadel Naeem, director of Al-Ahli Hospital, said the facility received 10 people wounded in the strike on central Gaza City, some of them critically injured.
It was not the first time since the ceasefire took effect on October 10 that Israeli fire has caused Palestinian casualties outside the Yellow Line. Palestinian health officials say more than 370 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce began.
Israel says it has opened fire in response to Hamas violations and maintains that most of those killed were Hamas militants. However, an Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military protocol, said the army is aware of several incidents in which civilians were killed, including young children and a family travelling in a van.
Palestinians say civilians have been killed in some cases because the line is poorly marked. Israeli troops have been laying yellow blocks to demarcate it, but in some areas the markers have not yet been placed.
Ceasefire’s next phase
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire is struggling to advance to its next phase, with both sides accusing each other of violations. The first phase involved the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The second phase is expected to include the deployment of an international stabilisation force, the formation of a technocratic governing body for Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and further Israeli troop withdrawals from the territory.
The remains of one hostage, Ran Gvili, are still believed to be in Gaza, with militants reportedly struggling to locate them. Israel is demanding the return of Gvili’s remains before proceeding to the second phase.
Hamas has called for increased international pressure on Israel to open key border crossings, halt deadly strikes, and allow more aid into the Gaza Strip. Recently released Israeli military figures suggest Israel has not met the ceasefire requirement of allowing 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day, a claim Israel disputes.
Humanitarian organisations say the shortage of aid has had severe consequences for most of Gaza’s residents. Food remains scarce as the territory attempts to recover from famine conditions that affected parts of Gaza during the war.
The toll of war
The vast majority of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced, with most living in large tent camps or among the ruins of damaged buildings.
The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken. Nearly all hostages, or their remains, have since been returned through ceasefires or other agreements.
Israel’s 2-year military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 70,660 Palestinians, about half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between militants and civilians but is staffed by medical professionals and keeps detailed records that are generally regarded as reliable by the international community.