GAZA CITY — An Israeli airstrike outside a school housing displaced Palestinians has killed at least 10 people, further threatening the stability of a fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire. The attack occurred east of the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip following reports of clashes between residents and an Israeli-backed militia.
Health officials reported that the strike took place after residents attempted to defend the area against militia members who allegedly tried to abduct individuals from the school. Witnesses stated that Israeli drones fired two missiles into the crowded neighborhood during the confrontation. While the militia claimed in a video statement to have killed five Hamas members, there was no immediate confirmation regarding the number of civilians among the dead.
The incident is part of a broader surge in violence that claimed at least 12 lives on Monday. In Gaza City, an airstrike killed a man on a motorbike and wounded a child, while another Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli forces in central Gaza. The Israeli military claimed the latter involved an unmarked vehicle that failed to stop after warning shots were fired.
The escalation has had immediate humanitarian consequences, as the World Health Organization (WHO) suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via Rafah. The decision followed a security incident in which a WHO contractor was killed. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the safety of other WHO staff, with the Israeli military claiming two employees were injured while the organization stated two staff members present were unharmed.
Since the ceasefire began in October, the Gaza health ministry reports that at least 700 people have been killed by Israeli fire. Conversely, Israel reports four soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period. The ongoing violence highlights the extreme difficulty in maintaining a cessation of hostilities as both sides continue to report frequent violations.
A major deadlock in peace negotiations remains the disarmament of Hamas. The group has refused to relinquish its weapons, describing demands for disarmament as an attempt to continue what it terms a genocide. This stance presents a significant hurdle for the implementation of the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which requires the transition into more permanent phases.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire following a two-year campaign that has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and displaced the majority of the population. International observers warn that the continued breakdown of the ceasefire and the suspension of medical aid routes could exacerbate the existing famine and medical crisis in the region.
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