Israel has persisted with its aerial bombardments and gunfire in Gaza, intensifying concerns about the stability of the delicate ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts by U.S. representatives are intensifying to restore and maintain the truce.
The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that four individuals lost their lives in two separate incidents, both caused by Israeli gunfire as the victims returned to inspect their homes in the al-Shaaf area, located east of the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.
According to the Israeli military, their forces targeted militants who crossed the so-called yellow line-a boundary established under the ceasefire-and approached Israeli troops in the Shujayea neighborhood, adjacent to Tuffah, allegedly posing a threat to soldiers.
This yellow line, outlined in a map shared by former U.S. President Donald Trump on October 4, marks the limit behind which Israeli forces withdrew and currently remain stationed as part of the ceasefire terms.
Residents of Gaza City have expressed confusion regarding the exact location of this boundary due to the absence of any physical markers. Samir, a 50-year-old resident of Tuffah, described the area as “completely devastated” and noted, “We have seen the maps, but it’s impossible to identify where these lines lie.”
Since the fragile ceasefire took effect on October 10, multiple flare-ups of violence have occurred, resulting in at least 97 Palestinian fatalities, according to Gaza health officials.
Clear Violations of the Ceasefire
As the death toll rises, both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes killed 42 people, including children, according to local health authorities. Israel justified these strikes as retaliation for an alleged ceasefire breach by Hamas militants, who reportedly killed two Israeli soldiers in Rafah.
Hamas denied any involvement in the Rafah incident, stating it has no communication with its remaining units in Israeli-controlled parts of the city and disclaimed responsibility for the event. A Hamas official accused Israel of manufacturing excuses to reignite hostilities.
Having released 20 living Israeli captives, Hamas announced ongoing efforts to transfer the remaining bodies of captives held in Gaza, citing significant obstacles due to the extensive destruction within the territory.
The International Committee of the Red Cross recently received the body of a 13th deceased captive from Hamas and handed it over to the Israeli military, as confirmed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Sunday, Israel threatened to suspend humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza but later confirmed the resumption of ceasefire enforcement.
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric acknowledged that aid deliveries had recommenced but did not specify the volume of supplies entering Gaza.
Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported on Monday that Israel continues to obstruct humanitarian aid convoys at multiple military checkpoints, despite trucks being loaded with essential supplies.
Abu Azzoum also noted that Israeli forces struck eastern Khan Younis on Monday, fueling Palestinian fears that the ceasefire might collapse.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), emphasized on social media the necessity of preserving the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. He called for thorough investigations into the “egregious violations” of international humanitarian law.
The fragile ceasefire in #Gaza must be upheld.
Yesterday, four people were killed following shelling by Israeli forces of an UNRWA school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat refugee camp. More are reported injured.
UNRWA buildings across the Gaza Strip were transformed into shelters…
– Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) October 20, 2025
Diplomatic Initiatives to Stabilize the Truce
In response to the ongoing violence, two envoys appointed by former President Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to reinforce the ceasefire agreement. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, held discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu, according to Israeli officials.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday for further talks with Netanyahu.
The next phase of the ceasefire is anticipated to address disarmament of Hamas, further Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza, and the establishment of an internationally supervised “board of peace” to govern the war-torn region.
Meanwhile, Egypt hosted negotiations in Cairo on Monday with senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Hayya to explore mechanisms for advancing the ceasefire’s implementation, according to a Hamas statement.
However, Hamas and allied groups reject any foreign administrative control over Gaza, as proposed in the Trump peace plan, and have resisted disarmament demands, complicating the path forward.
When questioned about the ceasefire’s durability, Trump appeared to place blame on Hamas, suggesting internal dissent within its ranks that leadership must resolve. “They need to behave properly, or they will be eliminated,” he warned, while clarifying that U.S. ground troops would not be involved.
Since the ceasefire’s inception, Hamas security forces have resumed patrols in Gaza, clashing with rival armed factions and targeting alleged criminal elements.
Last week, Trump remarked that Hamas had eliminated “a few very dangerous gangs,” a development he viewed as acceptable. “That didn’t concern me much, frankly. It’s fine,” he stated.
