JERUSALEM — Shortly after the announcement of a new peace initiative aimed at bringing stability to Gaza, the Palestinian territory experienced a surge in Israeli airstrikes, raising concerns over the future of the proposed agreement. On Sunday, Israeli attacks killed 18 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, marking one of the deadliest days since a cease-fire took effect in October. The ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The previous day, at least two people died in Israeli strikes that also damaged warehouses storing medical supplies, Palestinian officials reported. On Monday, Israeli forces targeted a vehicle on a beachside road, killing two individuals according to Gaza authorities. No new strikes were reported after Monday evening.

The 15-point peace plan, presented last week by President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, calls for a series of measures including Hamas disarmament, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of a new administrative authority in the territory. However, many details, including a clear timeline for weapons decommissioning, remain unresolved.

Israel has not officially endorsed the plan and has expressed reservations, particularly about the process of Hamas disarmament. Doron Spielman, a spokesman for Israel’s prime minister, stated that the publicly released plan does not reflect Israel’s position and that the government has shared its concerns with U.S. counterparts.

In contrast, Nickolay E. Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s representative for Gaza, criticized Israel’s recent strikes, highlighting civilian casualties and the destruction of vital medical supplies. He noted that these attacks undermined intensive mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation.

A joint statement from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, all key mediators in the region, condemned what they described as Israel’s ongoing violations in Gaza. Hamas, meanwhile, accused Israel of deliberate escalation designed to derail the peace effort, claiming entire families were wiped out during Sunday’s attacks.

The Israeli military maintains that its operations have targeted Hamas militants and military infrastructure, with measures taken to reduce civilian harm. Since the October cease-fire, Israel has intensified strikes across Gaza, claiming to have neutralized dozens of militants linked to the October 7, 2023, assault that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and sparked the current conflict. Gaza’s death toll now exceeds 70,000, with most of the territory heavily damaged.

On Tuesday, Gaza City held a mass funeral for 112 people recently recovered from the rubble, underscoring the conflict’s continued toll.

Analysts note that Israel’s recent escalation may reflect a strategy to maximize military pressure before any potential cease of operations. Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer, suggested Israel might be acting ahead of possible U.S. interventions to halt strikes.

Palestinian negotiators have described the new peace agreement as a “road map” designed to solidify the cease-fire, disarm Hamas, and pave the way for Gaza’s reconstruction under international supervision. Yet, skepticism remains on both sides about full compliance.

The pact requires Israel to adhere initially to the October cease-fire terms, including a halt to attacks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining military positions until Hamas is fully disarmed. Hamas, whose ideology centers on armed resistance, has agreed to transfer administration to a technocratic committee but remains reluctant to relinquish its weapons without Israeli concessions.

Palestinian analysts argue that continued Israeli strikes bolster Hamas’s position that Israel will not cease its offensive even if Hamas disarms. Hamas now conditions its willingness to surrender “heavy weapons” on Israel ending hostilities and withdrawing forces.

Israel asserts that Hamas has exploited the cease-fire to rebuild its military capabilities, recruiting thousands of militants and replenishing weapons stockpiles. The peace plan outlines disarmament as a gradual, sequential process without a defined timetable, ultimately vesting weapons control only in the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a group of Palestinian technocrats.

Despite these challenges, the Board of Peace expressed optimism after meeting with Netanyahu, emphasizing a shared goal of ending armed rule in Gaza and establishing civilian governance.

Among Gaza residents, hope for the plan’s success remains limited. Saed Abu Aita, a Gaza resident who lost two daughters in early war strikes and remains displaced, described the population’s apprehension, stating, “We’re not reassured about the situation at all.” His sentiment reflects widespread uncertainty about the durability of any future cease-fire and the prospects for peace and reconstruction in the enclave.