Israel kills 7 more civilians in Gaza despite ceasefire deal

Seven people have been killed in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip since the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement became effective on Oct 10, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), a Gaza-based rights group, said on Wednesday.

The Israeli Defense Forces have violated ceasefire 36 times in Gaza since its implementation, resulting in deaths and numerous injuries, according to the PCHR.

The PCHR called on the international community to take responsibility and ensure that Israel abides by the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement includes Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis and the north, and the opening of five crossings for aid, and the exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Hamas announced that it had handed over all 20 of the remaining live hostages, who were captured during the attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have begun releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange deal.

More than two years of Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza, killing over 67,000 people and triggering famine, according to Gaza's health authorities and UN-backed food experts.

A powerful winter storm swept through Toronto and surrounding areas on Thursday, causing school closures and travel delays as heavy snowfall reduced visibility and affected transportation services.

Meteorological authorities warned that heavy snowfall would greatly reduce visibility, while local transportation officials reported that several roads had been completely closed and major surface transit routes were operating at reduced speeds due to the storm.

Toronto Pearson International Airport officials announced Thursday that air traffic control measures had been implemented due to severe weather, affecting several inbound and outbound flights. Meanwhile, several local school boards in Toronto fully suspended classes, while others enacted partial closures in response to the storm.