Following the announcement of a new peace plan aimed at stabilizing Gaza, Israeli airstrikes intensified, raising concerns about the viability of the proposed agreement. On Sunday, Israeli strikes resulted in at least 18 deaths in the Gaza Strip, marking one of the deadliest days since a cease-fire agreement went into effect in October 2023. Palestinian health officials did not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties in their reports.
The escalation began with strikes on Saturday that killed at least two individuals and damaged medical supply warehouses. On Monday, Israeli forces targeted a vehicle on a roadside, killing two more, according to Gaza health authorities. The increase in military activity coincides with the release of a 15-point peace plan, brokered by a board chaired by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which envisages disarmament of Hamas, an Israeli withdrawal, and a new administrative framework for Gaza.
Israel has not signed on to the plan, and its government expressed reservations, especially regarding the disarmament provisions. Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister's office, stated that the publicly released version of the plan does not reflect Israel’s positions. He noted that Israel has communicated its concerns to U.S. officials, emphasizing the issue of Hamas’s disarmament. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stance, affirming on social media that Israel would not withdraw from positions in Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group governing Gaza, condemned the Israeli attacks, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians to undermine the peace initiative. Hamas stated that entire families were killed in Sunday's strikes. The group has indicated a willingness to cede administrative control to a technocratic committee supervised by the peace board but remains committed to retaining arms, although it reportedly agreed to relinquish "heavy weapons" under certain conditions, including Israeli withdrawal and cessation of attacks.
International mediators expressed concern over the violence. Nickolay E. Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, criticized the Israeli strikes for killing civilians and damaging critical medical supplies. Mladenov emphasized ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions. A joint statement from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, which have played roles as mediators, condemned what they described as ongoing Israeli violations in Gaza.
Since the cease-fire last October, Israel has increased military operations against targets in Gaza, citing the need to eliminate militants involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel. Israeli officials claim that the strikes aim at Hamas fighters and weapons infrastructure and that efforts are made to minimize civilian casualties. An Israeli military intelligence analyst suggested the recent surge in attacks may be intended to preempt any U.S. pressure on Israel to halt operations.
Local civilians in Gaza remain skeptical about the prospects for peace. Saed Abu Aita, a displaced Gaza resident who lost two daughters in the conflict, expressed doubt that either side will fully commit to the agreement, fearing continued unrest and uncertainty. Meanwhile, officials in Gaza held a mass funeral on Tuesday for 112 people recovered from the rubble, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian toll in the enclave.
The peace plan outlines a gradual and time-bound process for disarmament and administration transition but lacks a clear timeline and consensus on sequencing. The divided positions between Israel and Hamas, combined with the recent surge in violence, cast uncertainty over the immediate future of the fragile cease-fire and the broader prospects for a durable resolution in Gaza.