Israeli forces have killed five Palestinians in the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City, according to local sources and confirmation from the Israeli military. The army stated the individuals were targeted after allegedly approaching its troops.
In a separate incident, two more Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in Khan Younis. Additionally, Gaza Emergency Services reported an unspecified number of injuries following Israeli fire in the Halawa area of Jabalia.
The violence comes even as former U.S. President Donald Trump hailed a newly announced Gaza ceasefire agreement as a breakthrough that will bring “lasting peace” to the Middle East. His remarks have been met with widespread scepticism among regional analysts and observers.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the deal, calling it “a historic day that we have been waiting for for years, especially during the past two years.” However, on the ground, the reality remains grim. Palestinians released from Israeli prisons on Monday described being subjected to beatings and humiliation, while rights groups estimate that more than 10,000 Palestinians remain detained under conditions widely condemned as unlawful.
Overnight, Israeli military raids extended into the occupied West Bank, with troops storming neighbourhoods in Ramallah, al-Bireh, and Hebron, further escalating tensions beyond Gaza.
Meanwhile, Palestinians released from Israeli detention have described harrowing conditions. One former detainee referred to Israel’s Ofer Prison as a “slaughterhouse,” alleging systematic beatings and humiliation. Human rights organisations estimate that more than 10,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli custody under conditions widely condemned as unlawful.
The human toll of the conflict remains staggering. Since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, at least 67,869 people have been killed and 170,105 wounded, according to Gaza health authorities. The October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas resulted in 1,139 deaths in Israel and the capture of around 200 people.
Overnight, Israeli military raids extended into the occupied West Bank, with troops storming neighbourhoods in Ramallah, al-Bireh, and Hebron—further undermining hopes for regional calm.
Critics argue that Trump’s framing of the ceasefire as a peace milestone ignores deeper political realities. “I doubt it very much,” said Sultan Barakat, professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, speaking to Al Jazeera. “The focus has never really been on grand peacemaking in the region, but on the ceasefire and the release of captives.”
Barakat added that Trump’s earlier vision of a two-state solution—once centred on an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel—has now been scaled back dramatically. “Now, he seems to be limiting his expectations to the reconstruction of Gaza. That’s a much narrower agenda—and much less than what regional leaders had hoped for.”
As sporadic violence continues and humanitarian concerns mount, many question whether the current truce can evolve into a sustainable peace—or if it merely pauses a cycle of conflict with no political resolution in sight.