The occupation army said the mortar was fired during an operation in the area of the “Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement that divides the Israeli-occupied majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory.

The army did not say what troops were doing or whether they had crossed the line. It said the mortar had veered from its intended target, which it did not specify.

Fadel Naeem, director of Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, said the hospital received 10 people wounded in the incident.

It was not the first time since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10 that Israeli fire has caused Palestinian casualties outside the Yellow Line. Israel has killed over 370 Palestinians since the truce.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military protocol, said the army is aware of several incidents where civilians were killed, including young children and a family travelling in a van.

Palestinians say civilians have been killed in some cases because the line is poorly marked. Israeli troops have been laying down yellow blocks to delineate it, but in some areas the blocks have not yet been placed.

The ceasefire is struggling to reach its next phase, amid Israeli systematic violations. The first phase involved the exchange of Israelis detained in Gaza for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. The second is supposed to involve the deployment of an international stabilisation force, a technocratic governing body for Gaza, and further Israeli troop withdrawals from the territory.

The remains of one Israeli are still in Gaza as the resistance groups are struggling to find them. Israel is demanding the return of Gvili's remains before moving to the second phase.

Hamas is calling for more international pressure on Israel to open key border crossings, cease deadly strikes and allow more aid into the strip as stipulated by the agreement.

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