Deadly shelling and airstrikes deepen humanitarian crisis amid fragile ceasefire efforts
Violence surged again in Gaza this week as Israeli military operations intensified, compounding humanitarian pressures and exposing the fragility of the current ceasefire framework.
Renewed Violence in Gaza
Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes killed at least 18 people in Gaza on Wednesday, Feb 4, including four children, according to Palestinian health officials cited by Reuters. The attacks targeted Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Younis, marking another deadly episode despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Military Response
The Israeli military said the strikes followed an incident in which a gunman fired at Israeli soldiers, seriously injuring a reservist. In response, Israeli tanks fired into Gaza and airstrikes were launched against what the military described as security threats. Israeli authorities maintain the operations were defensive in nature.
Rafah Crossing Abruptly Disrupted
Amid the renewed violence, Palestinian officials reported that Israel halted the passage of patients through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, just two days after it had partially reopened. Patients who had arrived at hospitals in Khan Younis for evacuation were informed that all travel had been postponed, leaving many stranded in ambulances.
Conflicting Accounts Over Border Access
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that the Rafah crossing technically remained open but said it had not received the necessary coordination details from the World Health Organisation to facilitate patient transfers. The WHO did not immediately respond to requests for comment, adding uncertainty to the situation.
Ceasefire Framework Under Strain
The reopening of Rafah was a requirement under the October ceasefire agreement, which outlined the first phase of a plan by US President Donald Trump to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas. On Tuesday, 16 Gaza patients and 40 escorts crossed into Egypt, while Hamas sources said at least 40 people returned to Gaza from Egypt the same day.
Rising Death Toll Since Truce Began
Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued almost daily. Since its implementation, Israeli fire has killed at least 530 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Palestinian militants have killed four Israeli soldiers in the same period, Israeli authorities reported.
War’s Devastating Legacy
Israel’s two-year offensive on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, displaced most of the population, and devastated infrastructure across the enclave. The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on Oct 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli figures.
The renewed violence and disruption of medical evacuations underscore how fragile the ceasefire remains, with unresolved issues such as Israeli troop withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and Gaza’s future governance still looming. The ongoing instability continues to shape regional security concerns closely watched by both Indonesians and Singaporeans.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , Reuters (2026)
Keywords: Gaza Airstrikes, Rafah Crossing, Israeli Military, Hamas Ceasefire, Gaza Humanitarian Situation
