Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Khan Younis on first day of Ramadan

2026-02-18 - 12:22

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Wednesday, the first day of Ramadan, according to medical sources. Nasser Hospital reported that a young man died from Israeli gunfire near the Bani Suheila roundabout east of the city, as witnesses described heavy fire from Israeli military vehicles stationed in the area since early morning. Wider Ceasefire Violations Witnesses told Anadolu that Israeli forces also fired near the Morag axis north of Rafah in southern Gaza, while artillery shelling targeted eastern areas of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. In the north, Israeli vehicles fired toward eastern Beit Lahia, with artillery targeting Al-Sikka Street east of Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood. No immediate injuries were reported in those attacks. Ceasefire Context A US-backed ceasefire has been in place since Oct. 10, halting Israel's two-year war that has killed over 72,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded more than 171,000 since October 2023. Despite the agreement, Gaza's Health Ministry reports Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, killing 603 Palestinians and injuring 1,618 others.