Israeli Soldiers Describe Ongoing Killings Near Gaza Ceasefire Line

Israeli soldiers stationed in Gaza after an October ceasefire described repeated shootings of Palestinians near or across a demarcation line, according to interviews published by the Associated Press. Three reservists who served between October and January said troops fired on people approaching or crossing the line, sometimes without clear identification.

They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of ostracism.

One described the area as a "jungle" where troops shot at movement based on coordinates or hunches. They reported that commanders sometimes paid lip service to the agreement while privately favoring continued operations. The accounts were corroborated by interview notes collected by the whistleblower group Breaking the Silence.

The line divides Israeli-controlled and Palestinian areas and was meant to mark a buffer zone. Its exact location has been ambiguous in places, marked at times by yellow blocks or barrels and at other times not indicated. Israeli forces control just over half the strip under the current arrangement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that Israel controls 60 percent of Gaza and aims to reach 70 percent.

Ministry recorded more than 900 deaths in the territory since the ceasefire, with dozens occurring near or over the line. The ministry does not specify how many were militants. The Israeli military said most people killed posed a threat and that rules require warnings before force except in immediate-threat situations.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project showed deaths near the line rose more than 25 percent from January to April.