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Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 4 despite Trump's announcement of breakthrough

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued for the second day in a row on Sunday, killing four Palestinians despite U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that a breakthrough had been made in efforts to implement last year's Gaza ceasefire accord.

Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli warplanes carried out separate strikes in Gaza City, and Deir al-Balah.

Two people, including a young child, died in a Gaza City apartment airstrike, according to medics.

Trump stated on Thursday that a breakthrough had occurred after Hamas agreed disarming under an initiative backed by the United States to implement the ceasefire agreement signed last year in Egypt. Trump's Board of Peace released a 15 point roadmap on Friday that outlines?the final steps to implement the agreement.

The roadmap is yet to be implemented. Hamas has said it will only hand over weapons to be stored after Israel ceases military operations, and withdraws all its forces according to the agreement of last year. Israeli officials said that there would not be a withdrawal of the military from its current positions until Hamas underwent "genuine dearmament."

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has not publicly commented on this initiative. National Security Minister Itamar Bin-Gvir called it inacceptable and said Israel should keep assassinating Hamas leaders.

Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior Fatah official based in the 'Arab Emirates said in a post on Facebook that Jared Kushner - Trump's son in law and senior adviser in the U.S. Initiative - had told him he worked with the Israelis to halt attacks in Gaza.

Dahlan said that contacts were being maintained with the U.S. to ensure the agreement is fully implemented. He added that the success of the agreement 'now depends on Israel ending its daily attacks on Gaza.

The U.S. State Department has been contacted for a comment on Dahlan’s remarks. Israel did not immediately comment. Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Hatem Maher and Rod Nickel. Editing by Rod Nickel

(source: Reuters)