Israeli strikes kill nine as Gaza ceasefire shows signs of collapse

Friday 24 April 2026 - 12:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Israeli strikes kill nine as Gaza ceasefire shows signs of collapse

Israeli military operations killed at least nine Palestinians across Gaza and the occupied West Bank, underscoring the fragility of a ceasefire that has struggled to hold since late 2025. Airstrikes in Gaza left four people dead on Wednesday, while Israeli forces shot a 15 year old during a raid in the West Bank. The violence followed another strike a day earlier in Beit Lahia that killed five people, including three children, near a local mosque.

The incidents add to a rising toll despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025, ending two years of full scale war between Israel and Hamas. Authorities in Gaza report more than 2,400 violations of the truce since its implementation. Israeli officials accuse Hamas and other armed groups of repeated breaches, citing at least 14 incidents between April 8 and April 16, including planned attacks on Israeli forces.

Since the ceasefire began, at least 786 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations, according to health officials in Gaza. At least 32 of those deaths occurred in April. Among them was journalist Hossam Shabat Wishah, who died in a drone strike west of Gaza City on April 8. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, said earlier this month that civilians in Gaza remain exposed to ongoing airstrikes, shelling and gunfire, six months after the truce was announced.

Violence has also intensified in the West Bank. On April 21, armed settlers accompanied by Israeli soldiers entered the village of Al Mughayyir near Ramallah and opened fire near a school. Two Palestinians, including a 14 year old, were killed. Local officials said settlers approached the village under military escort and began shooting toward civilians. The Israeli military said it is reviewing the incident.

A recent humanitarian assessment by five aid organizations concluded that the ceasefire framework endorsed by the United Nations Security Council is failing. The plan included provisions for disarmament that Hamas has rejected, while negotiations toward a broader settlement remain stalled. With no effective enforcement mechanism or accountability system, violations continue on both sides, leaving civilians in Gaza and the West Bank exposed to persistent violence.