Gaza Ceasefire Under Pressure After Israeli Strike on Rocket Launch Site

Post by : Saif Nasser

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faced fresh strain on Thursday after Israel carried out a targeted strike on a rocket launch site near Gaza City. The Israeli military said the strike followed a failed rocket launch attempt that did not cross into Israeli territory.

According to Israel, the launch site was hit shortly after the projectile was detected. Israeli officials accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire twice in the past 24 hours. Hamas said it was reviewing the claim, showing once again how disputed events continue to fuel tension between both sides.

Meanwhile, Palestinian health authorities reported that two civilians, a woman and a young boy, were injured in separate incidents involving Israeli fire in southern and northern Gaza. There was no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding these injuries.

The latest violence comes at a sensitive moment, as uncertainty grows over when the next phase of the ceasefire will begin. Israel is still waiting for the handover of the final body due under the current stage of the truce. Israeli officials have made it clear that the next phase will not move forward until this condition is met.

Another major issue is the continued closure of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Israel says the crossing will only reopen after the final remains are returned, a key part of the broader ceasefire plan backed by international mediators.

Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of serious violations. Hamas claims it has recorded more than 1,100 Israeli breaches since October, including air strikes, artillery fire, killings, injuries, arrests, and destruction of homes. Hamas leaders have called on mediators to step in and prevent the situation from collapsing further.

Israel, for its part, says it views any attack attempt from Gaza with extreme seriousness and warns it will resume full military action if Hamas refuses to disarm. Israeli forces remain positioned in large parts of Gaza, while Hamas continues to assert its control in areas not occupied by troops.

Since the ceasefire began, hundreds of Palestinians, mostly civilians, have reportedly been killed, along with three Israeli soldiers. The wider conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has caused massive loss of life and widespread destruction across Gaza.

This latest incident highlights how unstable the ceasefire remains. Without stronger trust, clear enforcement, and meaningful mediation, the risk of a return to full-scale fighting continues to grow, leaving civilians on both sides to pay the heaviest price.