Israeli attacks have raged on across Gaza despite a supposed ceasefire, with civilians being killed, homes reduced to rubble and entire neighbourhoods pounded by relentless bombardment. Local authorities are reporting hundreds of documented violations as the supposed truce appears non-existent.
Since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October, Israeli military operations have persisted in multiple parts of the Gaza Strip, according to medical workers, witnesses, and officials.
These incidents include direct attacks, aerial bombardment, and sustained gunfire in residential areas.
On Sunday, two Palestinians were killed in Gaza City when an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped a bomb on civilians in the Shujaiya neighbourhood.
Medical sources confirmed the deaths, describing the incident as the latest in a growing list of ceasefire violations. Witnesses said the attack occurred in areas from which Israeli forces had already withdrawn, and noted there were no violations from within the army-controlled yellow zone.
Local sources reported heavy fire from Israeli helicopters over eastern Gaza City beginning early Sunday.
At the same time, Israeli military vehicles stationed in army-controlled areas opened fire toward the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, eastern Khan Younis, and northern Rafah in southern Gaza.
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These attacks, residents said, created widespread fear among civilians attempting to return to damaged homes.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, the Israeli army has committed 738 ceasefire violations as of 9 December.
Officials added that these violations undermine any sense of safety for displaced families and continue to place civilians at risk despite the supposed halt in hostilities.
Civilian deaths
The cumulative toll of these violations has been severe. Gaza health officials report that at least 401 Palestinians have been killed and 1,108 injured by Israeli forces since the ceasefire took effect. These deaths add to a total death toll of more than 70,900 Palestinians since October 2023.
Medical workers say many of the victims were targeted while moving through neighbourhoods they believed were no longer under threat.
The lack of warning before attacks and the use of aerial drones have made it difficult for civilians to identify safe areas.
Families returning to eastern Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah described hearing gunfire and explosions despite the ceasefire announcement. Several said they were forced to flee again after coming under fire near their homes.
Beyond direct attacks, Gaza authorities warn that damaged infrastructure has become another deadly consequence of the war. At least 18 civilians have been killed since the ceasefire began due to the collapse of buildings previously damaged by Israeli strikes, according to the Interior Ministry.
A ministry statement said that four people died Saturday when a damaged building collapsed in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City. In total, 46 damaged buildings have collapsed across Gaza since Oct. 10, raising concerns about the safety of returning residents.
Gaza Civil Defence reported pulling the bodies of two children from rubble in northern Gaza and rescuing five people alive after the roof of a three-story building collapsed. Two people remain missing. Officials say harsh weather and blocked reconstruction efforts have increased the risk of further collapses.
Humanitarian crisis
The Interior Ministry has appealed to the international community to allow building materials into Gaza, warning that thousands of displaced civilians remain without safe shelter. Israel continues to restrict reconstruction efforts and the entry of mobile homes into the territory.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 60% of homes, 80% of commercial facilities, and 65% of roads in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Thousands of Palestinians are believed to remain buried under rubble.
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that progress against famine in Gaza remains extremely fragile, despite the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reporting that no areas in Gaza are currently classified as facing famine.
The IPC is a global initiative led by the UN and partner agencies that analyzes food insecurity levels. He said more than 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to suffer acute malnutrition, while only half of Gaza’s health facilities are partially functional.
