Fear Grips Gaza As Israeli Attacks Persist Despite Ceasefire

Fear and uncertainty continue to dominate daily life across the Gaza Strip as Israeli military strikes and gunfire persist despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that was intended to reduce violence and pave the way for a broader political settlement between Israel and Hamas.

Residents across the enclave say the ceasefire has brought only a partial respite from the war, with airstrikes, drone attacks and shootings continuing in several areas. Many families remain displaced, while humanitarian agencies warn that Gaza’s already fragile living conditions are deteriorating further amid ongoing insecurity.

The latest incidents occurred this week when Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli strikes killed at least nine people, including five members of the same family, in separate attacks on residential apartments in Gaza. Fifteen others were wounded in the strikes, according to medics. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on those specific incidents.

Earlier in the week, Gaza health authorities reported that at least four Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks in central and southern Gaza, including a strike on a vehicle east of Deir al-Balah and shootings near Khan Younis. Israel said some of its operations targeted individuals deemed suspicious near military-controlled areas.

The ceasefire, which took effect in October 2025 after months of intense fighting, has failed to end hostilities completely. According to Gaza health officials, roughly 930 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, while the Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period. Indirect negotiations aimed at implementing a second phase of the agreement remain stalled over disagreements regarding Hamas’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza.

For ordinary Gazans, the continued violence has reinforced a climate of fear. Residents describe hearing drones overhead throughout the day and night and remain uncertain whether any area can be considered safe. Many families who returned to damaged homes after the ceasefire have once again been forced to relocate because of renewed attacks.

The humanitarian crisis also remains severe. Reuters reported this week that Gaza’s fishing industry, once an important source of food and income, has been devastated. Fishermen are now repairing small boats with salvaged door frames, scrap wood and reclaimed fiberglass because essential materials remain unavailable. Local fishing catches have fallen from around 15 tons per day before the war to less than 15 tons per month, worsening food shortages across the territory.

Aid organizations say thousands of children continue to receive treatment for malnutrition despite some improvement in food deliveries since the ceasefire. Damage to infrastructure, shortages of clean water, and limited access to medical supplies continue to affect much of the population.

The broader regional situation has further complicated efforts to stabilize Gaza. Ongoing tensions involving Israel, Hezbollah and Iran have raised fears that the conflict could escalate again, potentially undermining already fragile ceasefire arrangements. Tehran this week reiterated its support for Hezbollah while linking wider regional peace efforts to developments in both Lebanon and Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar continue, but no breakthrough has been announced. Analysts say the failure to resolve key issues, including security arrangements, governance and reconstruction, has left the ceasefire vulnerable to repeated violations and renewed outbreaks of violence.

As negotiations remain deadlocked and attacks continue, many Gazans say they are living in a state of constant anxiety. While the ceasefire has reduced the scale of the conflict compared with the height of the war, residents and humanitarian workers warn that lasting peace remains elusive, leaving millions trapped between ongoing violence, displacement and uncertainty about the future.