Israeli forces on Sunday carried out overnight strikes on Gaza, killing at least eight persons, including two children, Al Jazeera reported.

This took the toll to 18 in the three days since United States President Donald Trump claimed that his “Board of Peace” had arrived at an agreement that he described as a “monumental step toward lasting peace and security” in West Asia.

The deaths on Sunday night took place in western Gaza City, northwest of the city of Khan Younis and near Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza.

Those killed in western Gaza city were identified as Abdullah Abu Taif, his wife Abeer Anan and their son Azzam, Al Jazeera reported. Three members of the Al-Hams family were killed near Khan Younis – father Mahmoud, his wife Fatima and their daughter.

In central Gaza, 68-year-old Kamu Abu Muailiq and his wife Huda were killed in a strike on their home, the channel quoted medical officials as saying.

Trump had on Thursday announced that the so-called Board of Peace had arrived at an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Palestinian militant group Hamas and “all other armed” organisations operating in Gaza.

Hamas said on Friday that it had agreed to the proposal, which would entail the group handing over its weapons and Israeli forces gradually withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, AFP reported.

Tel Aviv has not yet officially commented on the agreement. However, the news agency quoted an unidentified political source as saying that there would be no withdrawal of Israeli forces till Hamas’ “genuine disarmament”.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on Gaza since then, leaving more than 73,300 persons dead.

In September, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry said that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

In June, commission said that the Israeli military had deliberately targeted and killed Palestinian children to commit a genocide. The Israeli forces have killed more than 20,000 children and injured 44,000 since October 2023, the panel said.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.

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