IDF kills Hamas gunmen in Gaza as ceasefire violations hit 139
Last updated: 18:16 UTC, April 06 2026 | Started: 2026-04-06 18:16 | 1 update(s) | Avg confidence: 72/100
The story so far: The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale assault on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, triggering an Israeli military campaign that has killed over 72,000 Palestinians according to Gaza health authorities. A US-brokered ceasefire took effect in October 2025, but armed incidents have continued near-daily along the Yellow Line dividing Israeli- and Hamas-controlled zones. In February 2026, the US and Israel opened a separate war against Iran, further complicating Gaza diplomacy and squeezing humanitarian access.
Latest Updates
2026-04-06 18:16 — IDF kills Hamas gunmen in Gaza as ceasefire violations hit 139
The IDF said it identified a Hamas cell 'operating in proximity to IDF troops in the northern Gaza Strip, in a manner that posed an immediate threat,' and struck and killed the gunmen overnight on April 6, according to the Times of Israel, citing an IDF statement.
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What We Know
- The IDF said it identified a Hamas cell 'operating in proximity to IDF troops in the northern Gaza Strip, in a manner that posed an immediate threat,' and struck and killed the gunmen overnight on April 6, according to the Times of Israel, citing an IDF statement.
- Separately, an Israeli airstrike killed at least four Palestinians near Gaza City's Darraj neighbourhood on April 6, local health authorities said, per the Times of Israel.
- Palestinian groups have violated the October 2025 ceasefire at least 139 times in total, including 22 times since the US–Israel war on Iran began on February 28, according to the IDF as cited by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on April 6, 2026.
- The Gaza Hamas-run health ministry reported that Israeli fire has killed at least 700 Palestinians since the ceasefire began in October 2025; the toll does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, and the figures cannot be independently verified, per the Times of Israel.
- Aid access has deteriorated sharply: data from mid-March showed the entry of aid trucks into Gaza had dropped 80% since the start of the Iran war, driving up prices of basic food staples, according to Crisis Group's March 2026 CrisisWatch report.
Still Unclear
- Israel Defense Forces (IDF official statements, via Times of Israel): The IDF says its strikes in Gaza target Hamas operatives who pose an immediate threat to Israeli forces and constitute responses to ceasefire violations by Palestinian armed groups.
Hamas (via Times of Israel and Al Jazeera): Hamas and the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry say Israeli fire constitutes 'blatant ceasefire violations under false pretenses' and has killed at least 700 Palestinians since October 2025, without distinguishing civilians from combatants.
- (Unverified — single source; the Israeli military had no immediate comment on the incident) Israeli drones fired two missiles east of the Maghazi refugee camp on April 6, killing at least 10 people and wounding several others near a school housing displaced Palestinians, amid clashes between Palestinians and an Israeli-backed militia. [Haaretz live blog, citing medics and residents]
- (Unverified — single source; not independently corroborated) Palestinian media reported three dead and several wounded in a separate Israeli strike on Gaza City on April 6. [Palestinian media, cited by Times of Israel]
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Total Palestinian ceasefire violations documented by IDF since October 2025 ceasefire | 139 violations | IDF, via Foundation for Defense of Democracies (April 6, 2026) |
| Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the October 2025 ceasefire (per Hamas-run health ministry; does not distinguish civilians from combatants) | At least 700 | Gaza Hamas-run health ministry, via Times of Israel |
| Drop in aid truck entries into Gaza since start of Iran war (mid-March data) | 80% decline | Crisis Group CrisisWatch, March 2026 |
| Total Palestinians killed in Gaza war since October 2023 (per Gaza health ministry, as of February 2026) | Over 72,000 | Gaza Health Ministry, acknowledged by IDF official in January 2026 |
| IDF soldiers killed in attacks by Gazans since October 2025 ceasefire | 4 soldiers killed | Times of Israel, citing IDF |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gaza ceasefire still in effect?
Nominally yes. The US-brokered ceasefire took effect in October 2025, but the IDF has documented 139 Palestinian violations since then, while Gaza's health ministry says at least 700 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the same period. Both sides accuse each other of breaches, and near-daily incidents continue.
What is the Yellow Line in Gaza and why does it matter?
The Yellow Line is the ceasefire demarcation dividing Israeli-controlled Gaza from Hamas-held territory. The IDF strikes Gazan fighters who cross it toward Israeli troops, framing this as force protection. Hamas calls such strikes violations of the ceasefire. Arab diplomats have been reluctant to deploy an international stabilisation force on the Palestinian side of the line.
How does the ongoing Iran war affect the situation in Gaza?
Since the US–Israel strikes on Iran began on February 28, 2026, Gaza has receded from international focus. Aid truck entries dropped 80% by mid-March, driving up food prices, per Crisis Group. Hamas's disarmament — required under Trump's peace plan — remains unresolved, blocking the ceasefire's second phase and stalling humanitarian governance.
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