Israeli Strikes in Gaza Test Fragile Ceasefire as Tensions Rise

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in separate incidents near the designated control line in Gaza on Monday, highlighting the growing difficulty of sustaining a fragile ceasefire that began more than six weeks ago. According to Palestinian medics, two people were killed and another wounded when an Israeli drone fired a missile east of Khan Younis. A third person died after a tank shell struck the eastern outskirts of Gaza City.

Israel’s military said the strikes targeted individuals it identified as “terrorists” who had crossed the so-called yellow line and posed an imminent threat to Israeli troops. The incidents underscore the ongoing volatility despite a truce signed on October 9 between Israel and Hamas, intended to halt two years of intense fighting.

Tensions deepened further after the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced it had located the body of one of the remaining hostages in an area controlled by Israeli forces, though no timeline for a handover was provided. The body is among the last three still in Gaza.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas released all 20 surviving hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, along with the return of 28 hostage remains for 360 militant remains. However, both sides have accused each other of repeated violations since the truce began. The Gaza Health Ministry reports at least 342 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October 10, while Israel says three of its soldiers were killed by militant gunfire.

The ceasefire’s next phase is tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, recently endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. The proposal outlines an interim technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza overseen by an international peace board and supported by a multinational security force — details that remain heavily debated.

Efforts to advance the agreement continue, with former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting Palestinian Authority officials, and Hamas leaders holding talks in Cairo. Yet negotiators acknowledge deep uncertainty, especially over the mandate and composition of the international security force. Palestinian representatives warn that without a unified political framework and coordination among all Palestinian factions, any deployment risks further destabilizing Gaza.