Gaza strikes have killed at least eight people, including a four-year-old child, despite a ceasefire that came into force last October. Hospital officials and Gaza authorities reported separate attacks in Gaza City and Khan Younis, while Israel’s military said it had targeted military operatives. The latest violence has renewed concern over the fragile truce and the stalled efforts to end the war.
Gaza strikes reported in north and south
In Gaza City, hospital officials said a missile hit civilians gathered near Cairo School in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood. Three people were reported killed, including a young boy. Footage from outside Shifa Hospital showed mourners praying beside body bags, with the child’s body wrapped in a white towel.
In Khan Younis, Gaza’s Hamas-run interior ministry said a drone strike killed five police officers in the Al-Mawasi area. The ministry identified the victims as men aged between 23 and 53 and described the incident as a “horrific massacre”.
The Israeli military said its forces had carried out two attacks against individuals it described as military operatives. It did not immediately provide further details or evidence supporting that account.
Ceasefire under severe pressure
The ceasefire began in October last year, but Israeli air strikes have reportedly continued almost daily. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says at least 1,580 people have been killed since the truce began. The United Nations has previously regarded figures from the ministry as broadly reliable, although casualty figures remain politically contested.
Israel says its military operations are directed at Hamas. However, civilians have repeatedly been among those killed, deepening fears about the protection of non-combatants and the condition of Gaza’s already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Witness accounts from hospitals described scenes of grief and desperation. Relatives said people were sheltering in tents when the strike occurred, while hospital footage showed families gathered around the dead.
Peace plan faces renewed uncertainty
A Gaza peace plan brokered by the Trump administration has stalled, leaving the ceasefire without a clear political pathway. The truce included the release of thousands of Palestinians held by Israel in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza, alongside an agreement intended to end the conflict.
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage, according to the source report. Gaza’s health ministry says the overall death toll in the territory since the start of the war has reached 74,594.
The continuing attacks illustrate the gap between the formal ceasefire and conditions on the ground. Without sustained monitoring, accountability and renewed negotiations, the truce remains vulnerable to further escalation.
Why the latest Gaza violence matters
- Civilians remain at risk: The reported deaths included a four-year-old child.
- The ceasefire remains fragile: Air strikes have continued despite the agreement.
- Diplomatic progress has stalled: The proposed peace framework has not moved forward.
- Humanitarian pressure continues: Hospitals and families are coping with repeated casualties and displacement.
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International response and humanitarian concerns
The latest reports are likely to intensify calls for restraint, independent investigations and improved humanitarian access. Aid agencies have warned that shortages of funding and essential supplies are making it increasingly difficult to support civilians affected by the conflict.
Hospitals remain central to the response, but medical facilities face enormous pressure from casualties, damaged infrastructure and limited resources. The deaths reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis add to the long-running debate over how the ceasefire is being implemented and whether civilians are receiving adequate protection.
For families in Gaza, the reported strikes have reinforced the belief that the war has not truly ended. For negotiators, the incidents present another major obstacle to rebuilding trust and advancing a lasting settlement.
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What happens next?
The immediate focus is expected to remain on verifying the circumstances of the reported attacks, treating the wounded and preventing further escalation. Any revival of the peace plan will depend on renewed negotiations, continued hostage and detainee arrangements, and credible mechanisms to uphold the ceasefire.
Gaza strikes continue to expose the fragility of the truce. Until diplomatic efforts produce enforceable guarantees and meaningful protection for civilians, the ceasefire is unlikely to deliver the lasting security promised to people on either side of the conflict.