Ceasefire Under Strain: Israeli Strikes Claim Five Lives in Gaza Amid Ongoing Tensions
Israeli military operations across the Gaza Strip have left at least five people dead and over a dozen wounded, Palestinian and Israeli sources confirmed on Friday, casting further doubt on the stability of a ceasefire that has held for more than three months.
The incidents occurred in the central Maghazi refugee camp and the southern city of Rafah, areas where Israel says it is conducting targeted operations against militant threats. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, two men were killed in Maghazi following a drone strike.
In a separate incident in Rafah, the Israeli military stated its air force targeted a group emerging from an underground site, killing three individuals it identified as "terrorists." The military added that operations continued in the area to "locate and eliminate" remaining suspects.
The strategic Rafah border crossing with Egypt—a vital lifeline for humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave—was also a focal point of tension. Wafa reported Israeli naval gunboats firing on fishing vessels off the Rafah coast, though no casualties were immediately reported from that engagement.
Palestinian authorities have repeatedly called for the reopening of the Rafah crossing, a key provision in the second phase of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement. They argue the continued closure is blocking essential supplies for tens of thousands of displaced civilians.
Further south, near Khan Younis, medical sources told Al Jazeera that Israeli shelling struck a tent sheltering displaced people in the al-Mawasi area, injuring six, including a pregnant woman according to the Anadolu news agency.
Background & Analysis: The U.S.-brokered ceasefire, initiated in October to halt the intense fighting that erupted on October 7, 2023, has been marked by persistent low-level violence. Gaza health authorities report that since the truce began, Israeli operations have killed at least 492 Palestinians and injured 1,356. While Washington announced the transition to a "second phase" aimed at a definitive end to hostilities in January, tangible progress remains elusive. The UN Secretary-General has recently emphasized the need for full implementation of the agreement, including an Israeli withdrawal, but the Israeli military maintains its forces are deployed in line with the ceasefire and will act against any "immediate threat."
Voices from Readers:
"David Chen, Policy Analyst in Brussels: "These incidents, while localized, systematically erode the foundation of the ceasefire. Each violation makes the comprehensive 'Phase Two' goals—like sustained aid delivery and lasting security—increasingly distant."
"Sarah Johnson, Aid Worker (via email): "The closure of Rafah is catastrophic on the ground. We have warehouses full of medicine and food stuck on the Egyptian side while people in tents are being shelled. The ceasefire feels like a word on paper, not a reality for civilians."
"Marcus Holt, Commentator: "This is a farce. Calling it a 'ceasefire' while people are still being killed in strikes and fishermen are shot at is an insult. One side's 'targeted operation' is another side's civilian tragedy. The international community's 'concern' has achieved precisely nothing."
"Priya Sharma, International Relations Student: "The technical adherence to a paused full-scale war shouldn't mask the ongoing human cost. The data on casualties since October shows a conflict in a simmering state, which can boil over at any moment without decisive diplomatic pressure."