'Every day there is killing': Gazans face Israeli strikes despite ceasefire as peace deal stalls

What is a ceasefire, and how can fighting still occur during one?

A ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting, or to reduce it sharply, for a period of time. It is not automatically a peace treaty. The Gaza ceasefire brought major relief because Israel’s large-scale bombardment stopped, while aid and medical supplies increased.

Fighting can continue when one side says the other has violated the agreement, or when military forces keep carrying out operations against suspected threats. Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire. Gaza’s health ministry says Israeli attacks have continued almost daily.

The result is a dangerous gap between the agreement on paper and life on the ground. More than 1,400 people have reportedly been killed since the ceasefire began, including over 300 children. The article shows that a ceasefire can reduce violence without ending it, especially when enforcement and trust remain weak.

How many people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, and how many have been killed in the war overall?

The article reports that more than 1,400 people in Gaza were killed in Israeli attacks after the ceasefire began on 10 October last year. Gaza’s health ministry also says more than 30 people were killed in the week before the article was published. These figures show that violence continued despite the agreement.

The reported overall death toll from Israeli attacks since the war began three years ago is more than 74,000. The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

These numbers describe different periods. The 1,400-plus figure covers the ceasefire period. The 74,000-plus figure covers the war as a whole. The article attributes both Gaza figures to the Hamas-run health ministry and notes that the UN considers them reliable.

Why are areas near Gaza’s “Yellow Line” especially dangerous for civilians?

Gaza’s Yellow Line separates areas occupied by the Israeli military from areas controlled by Hamas farther west. The article calls land around the line especially dangerous because Israeli forces have frequently opened fire there. Civilians living nearby can therefore face danger from military activity while remaining close to areas controlled by an armed group.

Fida al-Toutah and Ismail al-Bardawil both lived near the line. Fida was shot in her tent, according to her family. Ismail, aged 14, was reportedly shot while fishing about 20 metres from the shore. The IDF said it had no information about either incident.

Moving away is difficult. Gaza’s population is squeezed into under 40% of its area, and most people have already been displaced repeatedly. The shortage of space means civilians may remain near dangerous zones even when they know the risks.

What do Israel and Hamas each say about the continued violence and the conditions for ending the war?

Israel’s stated position is that its forces are targeting Hamas operatives. It also accuses Hamas of continuing to violate the ceasefire. The Israel Defense Forces said it had no record of Fida al-Toutah’s killing and no information about the reported shooting of Ismail al-Bardawil.

The article gives no direct statement from Hamas explaining its position on the continuing violence or setting out conditions for ending the war. It does say Hamas controls the western part of Gaza, suppresses dissent, and continues recruiting fighters. That describes its presence, not a formal peace position.

This leaves the public dispute unresolved. Israel reports military threats and violations, while Palestinian families and Gaza’s health ministry report continuing Israeli attacks and civilian deaths. The article says an agreement to end the war exists, but it does not explain how the parties would settle these competing claims.

What was the October 2025 peace deal supposed to achieve, and why has its second phase stalled?

The article says the ceasefire involved releasing thousands of Palestinians held by Israel in exchange for all 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza. It also included an agreement to end the war that began after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. The ceasefire stopped Israel’s large-scale bombardment and increased aid and medical supplies.

However, the source does not describe an October 2025 peace deal by that name. It also does not set out a formal second phase, its timetable, or the specific reasons it stalled. The text only says that the wider peace agreement has stalled while strikes continue.

The clearest evidence of the breakdown is continued violence during the ceasefire. Israel says Hamas violated the agreement, while Gaza’s health ministry reports Israeli attacks almost every day. Without more details in the source, the precise obstacles to a second phase cannot be identified.

What happens to Gaza’s civilians when strikes continue and reconstruction materials and machinery cannot enter freely?

Continued strikes keep civilians from returning safely to homes and rebuilding ordinary lives. If reconstruction materials and heavy machinery cannot enter freely, damaged buildings, roads, water systems, and medical facilities cannot be repaired at the needed scale. This general consequence is not explained directly in the source, which focuses on displacement and daily danger.

The article gives vivid examples. Amal Alabadla lives in a tent that floods in rain and can be damaged by strong winds. Her son suffers epilepsy seizures in winter because of the cold. Fida’s family had moved seven times, yet still could not find safety.

The result is prolonged dependence on unsafe shelters and humanitarian aid. Gaza’s ceasefire brought more supplies, but strikes continued almost daily. Unless violence falls and people can access safe places and rebuilding resources, displacement, illness, and exposure will continue. The article does not say when reconstruction access might improve.

What is the difference between a temporary ceasefire and a lasting peace agreement, and what usually makes either one hold?

A temporary ceasefire is a short-term arrangement to stop or reduce fighting. It can allow hostages, prisoners, aid, and medical supplies to move. A lasting peace agreement goes further. It establishes durable political and security arrangements that address the causes of conflict and make renewed fighting less likely.

The Gaza example shows the difference. Large-scale bombardment stopped, and aid increased, but Israel continued strikes almost every day. Israel said it was targeting Hamas operatives, while Gaza’s health ministry reported continuing deaths. The pause reduced some violence without creating lasting security.

Either arrangement needs clear rules and communication. A lasting deal usually also needs monitoring, consequences for violations, protection for civilians, and practical steps that build trust. The source does not identify a complete enforcement system. Its events show that an agreement can exist formally while fear, displacement, and killing continue.

Key Facts:

📌 A ceasefire pauses or limits fighting but does not necessarily create peace.

📌 Israel says it targets Hamas operatives during the ceasefire.

📌 More than 1,400 people were killed in Gaza during the ceasefire.

📌 More than 1,400 people were killed after the ceasefire began.

📌 More than 74,000 people have been killed during the war overall.

📌 The UN considers Gaza health ministry figures reliable.

📌 The Yellow Line separates Israeli military areas from Hamas-controlled areas.