Gaza Ceasefire Teeters on Brink as Israel Targets Rocket Launch Site, Killing 7 Palestinians

CAIRO/DUBAI: The fragile Gaza ceasefire was on the verge of collapse on Thursday after Israeli forces killed at least seven Palestinians in separate strikes, escalating tensions in the already volatile region. The latest violence started with an Israeli airstrike that killed four people, including children, in a tent in the western area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Another strike followed, killing a person east of the city, near where Israeli forces operate. Later in the day, medics reported that a man was killed in an Israeli strike at a school in Jabalia, which also housed displaced families. Another strike killed a person in a tent near Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll to at least seven. The Israeli military claimed it had struck a launch site shortly after a rocket was fired from Gaza, which failed to reach Israeli territory. However, Hamas has denied any involvement in the rocket launch. The October ceasefire has made little progress, with both sides accusing each other of major breaches. Israel is waiting for the return of the last Israeli hostage's remains, a condition for moving to the next phase of the truce. However, Hamas has refused to disarm and has been reasserting its control over the Gaza Strip. The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with over 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers killed since the ceasefire took effect. The territory's infrastructure is severely damaged, and nearly all of Gaza's 2 million people are living in makeshift homes. The Israeli government has yet to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a key condition of the ceasefire. The ongoing tensions have raised concerns that the ceasefire may not hold, and the situation in Gaza could deteriorate further. Hamas has documented over 1,100 alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire since October, including killings, injuries, and home demolitions. The group has urged mediators to intervene to prevent further escalation. The situation in Gaza is a stark reminder of the complexities of the conflict, which has seen repeated cycles of violence and failed attempts at peace. The return of the last Israeli hostage's remains and the disarmament of Hamas remain key sticking points in the negotiations, and it remains to be seen whether the ceasefire can be salvaged.