A series of airstrikes in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 Palestinians, according to hospital officials, marking a severe test for the US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October . The strikes hit areas including Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the Muwasi displacement camp, with some occurring on both sides of the agreed-upon "yellow line" demarcating zones of control . The Israeli military stated the strikes were a response to militants firing on its forces in Khan Younis, an incident that caused no Israeli casualties.
The latest incidents are part of a pattern of violence that has persisted since the truce began. Gaza's Government Media Office has recorded nearly 400 Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, leading to 280 Palestinian deaths and more than 650 injuries as of mid-November . A central point of tension is the "invisible yellow line," a boundary that divides the Gaza Strip into areas of Israeli and Palestinian control . Palestinians lack clear information on the boundary's location, and many have been shot while attempting to check on their homes in Israeli-controlled zones, which comprise over half of the enclave .
While the ceasefire has allowed some aid to enter, the situation in Gaza remains dire. The UN has warned that the hunger crisis is still catastrophic, with aid deliveries falling short of the 600 trucks per day stipulated in the agreement . Philippe Lazzarini, chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), has contradicted claims of improved safety, stating that residents suffer from disease, displacement, and insufficient resources . The coming winter, with its rain and cold, is expected to add further hardship for the displaced population .
The ceasefire, a key part of a broader 20-point US plan, has been fragile from the outset, with both sides trading blame for violations. The plan, which was recently adopted by the UN Security Council, authorizes an international stabilization force and envisions a pathway to Palestinian statehood . However, Hamas has criticized the plan, stating that any international force tasked with disarming Palestinian factions would lose its neutrality and become a party to the conflict . The continued violence and disagreements over the agreement's implementation cast a long shadow over the future of the truce and the people of Gaza.