Israeli airstrikes kill seven Palestinians as Gaza truce weakens

Saturday 28 February 2026 - 12:51

By: Dakir Madiha

Israeli airstrikes kill seven Palestinians as Gaza truce weakens

At least seven Palestinians were killed on Friday in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, as violence intensified despite a fragile ceasefire that has largely held since October. The strikes hit police checkpoints and residential areas, raising fresh doubts about the sustainability of the truce negotiated with U.S. support.

Health officials in Khan Younis said three people died and several others were injured when an Israeli missile struck a police checkpoint in al-Mawasi, a southern area outside Israeli control. Two more people were killed in a drone attack near the entrance of the Bureij refugee camp, while another strike in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood left two dead and multiple wounded.

The Israeli military stated it had targeted militants in Rafah, describing the operation as a response to repeated ceasefire violations. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denounced the attacks as showing “complete disregard for mediation efforts.”

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 618 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began on October 10, 2025, bringing the total death toll since the war’s outbreak to 72,082. The ministry’s figures, though issued by the Hamas-led administration, are generally recognized by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

Clashes have become almost daily along the so-called Yellow Line separating Israeli-controlled zones from Palestinian-populated areas. The Israeli military maintains that most of the casualties were militants, although some officials acknowledge that civilians, including children, have been among the victims.

While the ceasefire’s second phase saw the reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, major political hurdles remain. Talks to send an international peacekeeping force and deploy a Palestinian technocratic committee have stalled, reflecting deep divisions over the timeline for Israeli withdrawal and the future governance of Gaza.

The war began after the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people. The remains of the last Israeli hostage were returned in January, paving the way for renewed but uneasy calm, now threatened by escalating strikes.