GAZA STRIP- At least five Palestinians were killed and several others wounded after Israeli warplanes struck multiple areas across Gaza early Tuesday, in what local authorities condemned as a blatant violation of the cease-fire. The Gaza Civil Defence Agency said the air raids targeted residential zones and infrastructure inside Gaza, south of Gaza City and north of Khan Younis, breaching the boundary known as the “Yellow Line.”
The Yellow Line refers to the demarcated zone to which Israeli forces had withdrawn under the truce agreement. It effectively divides Gaza into two halves, symbolizing the fragile promise of peace that has now been shattered.
Netanyahu Orders “Immediate and Powerful” Response
The attacks followed an order from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who directed the Israeli Defence Forces to launch “immediate and powerful” strikes after accusing Hamas of violating the cease-fire by misidentifying the body of an Israeli hostage.
However, Hamas denied the accusation, calling Israel’s justification “a fabrication meant to mask continued aggression.” Humanitarian observers warn that Israel’s response reflects a pattern of collective punishment, further destabilizing Gaza’s already devastated landscape.
Cease-Fire in Name Only
The truce, brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, aimed to end nearly two years of continuous warfare. Yet Gaza’s government media office reported that Israel has violated the cease-fire at least 125 times since October 10, killing more than 94 civilians.
“Israel talks peace but acts with occupation,” said Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence. “Even under the truce, bombs continue to fall, and our people continue to die.”
A War Without End
Since the October 2023 Gaza War, more than 68,500 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 injured, according to Gaza health officials. Entire neighborhoods remain buried in rubble as aid convoys struggle to reach survivors.
Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on movement and supplies, tightening its blockade despite growing international condemnation. The new strikes mark yet another escalation in a war that has left Gaza’s population physically and psychologically broken.
World Reaction: Silence and Hypocrisy
Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned Israel’s continued military operations, calling them potential war crimes.
Yet Western governments, particularly the United States, have largely avoided direct criticism, insisting that Israel has a “right to defend itself.”
Analysts warn that Netanyahu’s strategy of “deterrence through devastation” risks igniting a wider regional conflict. Meanwhile, Palestinians trapped between the ruins and the Yellow Line say the cease-fire exists only on paper.
