Smoke and a ball of fire rise above buildings in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, during an Israeli air strike, on May 12, 2021. - Israeli air raids in the Gaza Strip have hit the homes of high-ranking members of the Hamas militant group, the military said Wednesday, with the territory's police headquarters also targeted. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP)
Gaza City –
Despite the declared ceasefire, explosions have continued since yesterday across several areas in the eastern Gaza Strip, including eastern Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the central region.
At dawn today, the Israeli army carried out a ground incursion into the Abu al-Ajeen area east of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. Forces reportedly detonated a house and placed yellow concrete blocks nearby, accompanied by artillery shelling and gunfire.
Eyewitnesses said that “the sound of explosions and shelling has not stopped since yesterday,” adding that the situation has caused fear among residents and disrupted civilian movement and farming activities in the affected areas.
According to local sources, the Israeli forces’ placement of yellow markers following the demolition suggests a message of military warning or demarcation, despite the formal cessation of hostilities.
No official Palestinian or Israeli statements have yet been issued regarding the Abu al-Ajeen incident. However, local observers described the incursion as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement that was recently announced.
This renewed escalation raises questions about the credibility and sustainability of the truce and whether it can effectively protect civilians amid ongoing unilateral military actions.
Background and Significance
The ceasefire was intended to ensure a temporary calm allowing humanitarian aid access and relief operations.
The incursion and explosion, alongside continued shelling, indicate a fragile and unstable truce.
The persistence of explosions in multiple areas across Gaza suggests that the situation remains tense and may spiral into renewed violence.
Conclusion
Although a ceasefire has been declared in Gaza, the reality on the ground tells a different story. In the east of the Strip, residents live under constant threat, unsure when the next explosion might occur.
The question remains: Will the truce hold, or is it merely a pause before another round of escalation?
