Rabat – Palestinians in northern Gaza are facing new dangers after the Israeli army launched a ground invasion into areas that were previously off-limits under the US-brokered ceasefire.
Families in the Tuffah and Shujayea neighbourhoods of eastern Gaza City have been forced to flee their homes as Israeli forces advanced about 300 metres into residential areas, firing artillery and detonating explosive-filled vehicles.
Residents described terrifying moments as shrapnel flew near their shelters, forcing them to carry whatever belongings they could while escaping through narrow alleys. “We returned after the ceasefire and repaired some damaged rooms, but the occupation quickly displaced us again and took control of the area,” said local resident Saed Mushtaha, Al Jazeera reported.
Agreed on October 10, the ceasefire was supposed to allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and enable displaced Palestinians to return home. However, Israel continues to occupy more than half of the Gaza Strip and repeatedly crosses the “yellow line” separating army-deployed areas from civilian zones.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, there have been around 400 ceasefire violations since the truce began, killing over 300 Palestinians and wounding hundreds more.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is still critical as nearly one million Palestinians are displaced and living across 862 shelters, with tens of thousands lacking proper tents to protect against winter rains. The UN and aid organizations have warned that food access, though slightly improved since the ceasefire, is still far below the needs of the population.
Meanwhile, Israeli operations are not limited to northern Gaza. Israeli forces claim to have killed six Palestinian fighters and detained five others while targeting underground infrastructure in southern Gaza near Rafah. Artillery shelling has also been reported in Khan Younis, the territory’s second-largest city.
International bodies have criticized Israel’s actios, with UN experts and human rights groups raising concerns about violations of international law, civilian casualties, and the destruction of homes. The Israeli aggression has left many Palestinians fearful for their safety and uncertain about whether the fragile ceasefire will hold.