Post by : Anis Farhan

At least four Palestinians were killed and several others wounded on Monday evening after Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources and eyewitnesses reported, marking a further escalation in violence despite a fragile ceasefire that has struggled to hold.

According to Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital and local health officials, the strikes targeted a residential apartment in the al-Nasr neighbourhood of western Gaza City, causing a powerful explosion that flattened parts of the building and sent a plume of smoke over the densely populated district.

Medical staff at the hospital confirmed the deaths of four civilians and said several others, including children and women, were rushed in with serious injuries following the attack. Residents described scenes of chaos, with neighbours pulling bodies from rubble and frantic searches for those still trapped.

Details of the Strikes and Casualties

Witnesses told international news agencies that the strike occurred shortly after sunset and was powerful enough to shatter windows across several blocks. Emergency responders said they were overwhelmed with calls as the wounded poured in, and ambulances navigated rubble-strewn streets to reach makeshift clinics now treating the injured.

Local health officials also confirmed that the number of Gazans killed by Israeli fire since Monday morning — including the fatalities at al-Nasr — had risen to six, reflecting the breadth of strikes throughout the Gaza Strip on the same day.

These attacks come amid persistent tensions over a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which first came into effect in October 2025 but has been repeatedly tested by ongoing exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and armed groups in Gaza. Reports indicate that hundreds of violations of the ceasefire have already occurred, raising fears that the truce could collapse entirely.

Israeli Military Justification and Reactions

The Israeli military has defended its operations, saying that certain strikes — including some recent actions — were aimed at militant targets following attacks or attempted attacks on Israeli troops. In one incident reported separately by Israeli authorities, troops said they killed four armed militants who emerged from an underground tunnel in the southern Rafah area, calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire.

Israeli officials have regularly stated that its military actions are a response to security threats from groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and that precision strikes are intended to minimise civilian casualties while targeting those accused of planning or executing attacks against Israeli forces or civilians.

However, international mediators and humanitarian agencies have expressed deep concern over the continued civilian toll and the repeated targeting of populated areas — a trend that critics say undermines prospects for peace and heightens the humanitarian plight of Gazans.

Ceasefire Strains and Broader Violence

Despite the ceasefire agreement, which was aimed at ending months of brutal conflict following the October 7, 2023 escalation, violence has endured. According to reports tracking breaches of the truce, Israeli forces have violated the agreement repeatedly, resulting in hundreds of deaths and many more injuries across Gaza.

Earlier in the week, similar Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza City and Khan Younis killed at least 24 Palestinians, including children and women, local health officials said, with the Israeli military stating the actions targeted militant commanders believed responsible for attacks on Israeli forces.

These incidents occurred even as patient evacuations through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt — a key humanitarian provision of the truce — were delayed amid coordination issues, leaving vulnerable patients stranded and inflaming international concern over the humanitarian situation in the territory.

Humanitarian Impact and International Response

Humanitarian organisations and rights groups have repeatedly warned that civilian infrastructure in Gaza — including hospitals, schools and residential buildings — has been severely damaged by months of intermittent bombardment. Aid agencies have highlighted dire conditions for the territory’s nearly two million residents, many of whom are displaced and living with limited access to basic services.

The United Nations and other international bodies have called for both parties to return to negotiations and uphold the ceasefire terms, stressing that the protection of civilians and respect for international law must be central to any peace process. But repeated escalations continue to challenge diplomatic efforts and deepen mistrust on both sides.

Furthermore, Israel’s security cabinet recently approved measures to expand control over the occupied West Bank, a separate but related development that has drawn criticism from critics who say it threatens long-term prospects for a two-state solution and could further inflame tensions between Palestinians and Israeli settlers.

Voices from the Ground

Residents in Gaza described profound fear following the latest airstrike. Many civilians expressed frustration and sorrow over the loss of life, and lamented what they regard as unchecked military force in a densely populated territory. Families of the deceased have appealed for international intervention, calling on world powers to enforce the ceasefire and protect civilians.

Medical staff working in overwhelmed hospitals reported a constant influx of trauma casualties, ranging from blunt force injuries to severe burns. Doctors and nurses said they lack sufficient supplies, as humanitarian access remains constrained by security concerns and damaged infrastructure.

Political and Diplomatic Tensions

Diplomats from regional and global powers have been engaged in attempts to de-escalate the conflict, but progress has been mixed. Egypt and Qatar — key mediators in ceasefire negotiations — have continued shuttle diplomacy between Israeli and Palestinian representatives. They have urged restraint and emphasised the necessity of maintaining humanitarian corridors for aid and medical evacuations.

Still, the repeated flare-ups have made enforcement of truce terms difficult. Palestinian officials and factions have accused Israel of using “retaliatory pretexts” to justify military operations, while Israeli authorities argue that they are acting to protect citizens from armed attacks and tunnel-based threats.

International human rights organisations have underscored the need for accountability and for both sides to adhere to international humanitarian laws, particularly regarding the protection of civilians in conflict zones. They have also pressed for independent investigations into alleged ceasefire violations and attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Looking Ahead: Fragile Calm or Renewed Violence?

Analysts and experts on the Middle East note that the situation in Gaza remains highly volatile. With the ceasefire tenuous and both sides pointing to breaches by the other, the risk of broader escalation persists.

Observers say that without clear progress in political negotiations and durable mechanisms to verify and respond to violations, each deadly incident — like the recent residential airstrike in Gaza City — risks igniting further cycles of violence.

As of now, international pressure for renewed diplomatic engagement continues, with calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and commitments to honour the terms of the ceasefire. But for many Gazans, the cycle of military action and casualty reports has become all too familiar.

Disclaimer:
This report is compiled from multiple verified news sources reporting on the conflict dynamics in Gaza and does not represent any one official statement. Situational details may evolve rapidly as events unfold.

#Global News