The fragile ceasefire in Gaza faces its most serious challenge in weeks as Israeli military operations continue, claiming more Palestinian lives and raising fears among the displaced population of a full-scale return to the two-year conflict that has left the enclave in ruins.
The US-brokered ceasefire, a delicate agreement that left fundamental issues like the disarmament of Hamas unresolved, is being tested by a new wave of violence. Despite public commitments to the truce, the Israeli military conducted a fourth day of attacks on Friday, with residents reporting shelling and gunfire in northern Gaza. Palestinian health authorities reported that these latest strikes killed three people, adding to the 104 Palestinians that Gaza health authorities reported were killed in bombardments between Tuesday and Wednesday. These events mark a significant escalation and have created a climate of fear that the temporary calm could collapse entirely.
The recent violence threatens to add to a catastrophic death toll. According to a report from Al Jazeera, Israeli attacks over the past two years have killed at least 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with thousands more missing under the rubble. The assault has damaged or destroyed 92% of residential buildings, leaving millions displaced. A UN-backed global hunger monitor confirmed a famine in the enclave in August 2025, the first officially recognized in the Middle East. The human impact is staggering, with one survey showing over 60% of Gazans have lost family members since the war began.
A key obstacle threatening the ceasefire has been the slow and contentious process of hostage and body repatriation. Under the agreement, Hamas committed to handing over the remains of all deceased hostages in exchange for the return of hundreds of Palestinian fighters killed in the war. While Hamas has returned several bodies, it states that locating and retrieving the rest amid the widespread destruction is a complex and time-consuming process. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately stalling, a charge the group denies. This dispute over the handover has been a major difficulty in U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war permanently.
The ongoing violence occurs amidst growing international condemnation. A recent report by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, frames the conflict as an "internationally enabled crime". The report argues that the "genocide in Gaza was not committed in isolation, but as part of a system of global complicity," facilitated by the military, diplomatic, and economic support of powerful third states. This has prompted discussions at the UN about invoking the "Uniting for Peace" procedure to recommend collective measures, including the potential use of force, to maintain international peace when the Security Council is deadlocked.