Gaza City: Israel’s air strikes and shootings in Gaza have continued, raising concerns over the fragile US-brokered ceasefire with Hamas, even as American envoys step up diplomatic efforts to stabilise the deal. Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, outbreaks of violence have claimed dozens of lives and threatened the tenuous calm in the region.

The Palestinian Civil Defence agency reported that four people were killed in two separate attacks in the al-Shaaf area, east of the Tuffah neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City. The victims were reportedly hit by Israeli gunfire while returning to inspect their homes. Israeli military sources stated that the strikes targeted militants who allegedly crossed the “yellow line” boundary and approached Israeli troops in Shujayea, adjacent to Tuffah, posing a threat to soldiers.

Confusion over ceasefire boundaries

The yellow line, mapped out by US President Donald Trump on October 4, marks the boundary behind which Israeli troops had pulled back under the ceasefire. Residents of Gaza City expressed confusion over the exact demarcation due to the lack of visible markers. “The whole area is in ruins. We saw the maps but we can’t tell where those lines are,” said Samir, a 50-year-old resident of Tuffah.

Since the ceasefire began, at least 97 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities. Israeli air strikes on Sunday alone reportedly killed 42 people, including children. Israel claimed these attacks were retaliatory, after Hamas fighters allegedly killed two Israeli soldiers in Rafah. Hamas denied any involvement, calling Israel’s claims a pretext to resume military action.

Humanitarian concerns

The fragile ceasefire has also impacted humanitarian aid. Israel briefly threatened to halt aid deliveries to Gaza but later resumed them. The United Nations confirmed that aid convoys were being allowed in, though reports indicate that several Israeli checkpoints continue to block some shipments. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini called for adherence to the ceasefire and investigations into “blatant breaches” of international humanitarian law.

Amid ongoing destruction, Hamas has begun handing over bodies of Israeli captives. The Red Cross recently transferred the body of a 13th deceased captive to the Israeli military, while the group continues efforts to release remaining captives.

US diplomatic efforts

In a bid to stabilise the ceasefire, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Israel on Monday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Vice President JD Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance, are scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday. Discussions are expected to focus on disarming Hamas, Israeli troop withdrawals, and future governance under an internationally backed “board of peace.”

Egypt hosted talks with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya on implementing the ceasefire. However, Hamas and allied factions continue to reject foreign administration of Gaza and have resisted disarmament. Trump stated that any breaches of the ceasefire were largely due to “rebellion” within Hamas ranks, insisting that US troops would not be deployed in Gaza.

Internal enforcement in Gaza

Since the ceasefire, Hamas security forces have returned to patrol Gaza streets, clashing with other armed groups and eliminating alleged gangsters. Trump noted that Hamas had removed “a couple of very bad gangs,” a move he described as acceptable within the context of maintaining order.

Conclusion

The Israel-Gaza ceasefire remains precarious amid ongoing air strikes, border confusion, and disputes over responsibility for violent incidents. With US and Egyptian diplomatic efforts underway, the coming days will be crucial to maintain relative calm, ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and prevent the situation from escalating further.