Ceasefire Under Severe Threat: Israel’s Strikes Kill Seven, Unilateral Rafah Move Spurs Displacement Fears

Recent developments in the Gaza Strip underscore the extreme fragility of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, marked by immediate and fatal Israeli violations and a diplomatic crisis over border control.

Violations and Civilian Casualties: On Wednesday, Israeli military actions resulted in the killing of seven Palestinians, including two children (aged 8 and 10), in what authorities in Gaza describe as a critical violation of the truce.

• Al-Mawasi Tragedy: Five casualties, including the two children, were killed in an attack on the al-Mawasi camp in southern Gaza, an area sheltering displaced civilians. The strike caused a massive fire, injuring 32 others, some severely burned. Hamas immediately condemned the attack as a “war crime” and demanded that international mediators intervene.
• Northern Gaza Attacks: Two other Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in the Zeitoun neighborhood of northern Gaza City.

According to Gaza authorities, Israeli forces have committed at least 591 truce violations since October 10, resulting in 360 Palestinian deaths and 922 injuries.

Rafah Crossing Dispute: A major diplomatic obstacle has emerged following Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announcement that the Rafah Crossing will open exclusively for the exit of residents from Gaza, requiring “security approval.”

This unilateral move immediately drew strong opposition and condemnation:

1. Forced Displacement Fears: The announcement is viewed by observers as a step toward the permanent displacement and depopulation of the Gaza Strip, directly conflicting with Palestinian insistence on the right of return.
2. Egyptian Rejection: Egypt’s State Information Service denied coordinating with Israel on the plan, maintaining that any agreement must adhere to the ceasefire conditions requiring the crossing to be open in both directions for people and humanitarian aid.
3. UN Demand: The United Nations reiterated its call for the full reopening of Rafah for both humanitarian cargo and people, stressing that any departure by residents must be “voluntarily and freely without any pressure.”

The dispute over Rafah and the continuous violence threaten to derail the initial phase of the U.S. peace plan, which calls for aid access and the two-way opening of the crossing. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump insisted the ceasefire was “going along well” and that the second phase of his plan would happen “very soon,” despite the clear challenges on the ground.

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