Israel cites Hamas violations as tensions rise before US peace meeting
Fresh Israeli air strikes across Gaza on Feb 15 have killed at least 11 Palestinians, deepening tensions days before a high-level US peace initiative aimed at stabilizing the enclave.
Deadly Strikes Across Gaza
Israeli forces launched air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Feb 15, killing at least 11 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials. Gaza medics reported that four people died in a strike on a tent encampment sheltering displaced families.
Additional strikes killed five people in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, while another person was reportedly shot dead in the north. Israeli aircraft also targeted what was believed to be a commander from Islamic Jihad in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City.
Israel Cites Ceasefire Violations
An Israeli military official described the strikes as precise and consistent with international law. The official said the action was taken in response to what Israel called Hamas violations of the October ceasefire.
According to the military, militants emerged from a tunnel on the Israeli side of the “yellow line,” a demarcation separating Israeli- and Hamas-controlled areas under the truce. Crossing the line while armed was described as an explicit breach intended to harm Israeli troops.
Hamas Accuses Israel Of Breach
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem accused Israel of committing a new massacre against displaced Palestinians and said the attacks constituted a serious violation of the ceasefire.
He urged participants at the upcoming Board of Peace meeting in Washington on Feb 19 to pressure Israel to halt military operations and fully implement the truce agreement.
Ceasefire Under Strain
Israel and Hamas have repeatedly traded blame over alleged violations since the October ceasefire began. The truce forms a key component of US President Donald Trump’s broader effort to end the Gaza war.
The conflict began after Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which Israeli tallies say killed more than 1,200 people. Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Yellow Line Dispute And Tunnel Operations
Israel has reportedly moved the yellow line deeper into Gaza, even though phased Israeli withdrawals are part of the ceasefire framework. Hamas has rejected calls to disarm, another component of the agreement.
The Israeli military said it continued destroying underground tunnels in northern Gaza and confirmed an air strike east of the yellow line after militants were seen emerging from a tunnel. At least two militants were reported killed, though Gaza officials had no confirmed information on those casualties.
Casualties Since The Ceasefire
The Gaza Health Ministry stated that at least 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began. Israel, meanwhile, reported that four of its soldiers were killed by militants during the same period.
US officials told Reuters that President Trump is expected to announce a multibillion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and outline proposals for a United Nations-authorised stabilisation force during the upcoming Washington meeting.
The Feb 15 air strikes underscore the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire as both sides accuse each other of violations. With a major US peace initiative and reconstruction plan on the horizon, renewed hostilities risk undermining diplomatic momentum. For Indonesians and Singaporeans monitoring regional and global stability, the escalating tensions highlight how quickly fragile truces can unravel in protracted conflicts.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Reuters (2026)
Keywords: Israeli Air Strikes, Hazem Qassem, Yellow Line, Gaza Health Ministry, Donald Trump Board Of Peace
