Gaza Violence Escalates as Israeli Strikes Kill Nine, Ceasefire Under Strain
At least nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Palestinian civil defence and health officials reported. The strikes, targeting areas in both the northern and southern parts of the territory, have raised concerns about the stability of the existing ceasefire agreement.
According to medics on the ground, an Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment sheltering displaced families resulted in at least four fatalities. Further south, in Khan Younis, health officials confirmed another five Palestinians were killed in a separate strike.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes were a direct response to what they described as “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas. An Israeli military official said that in recent hours, IDF forces began striking in response to actions in the Beit Hanoun area, specifically citing the emergence of “terrorists from a tunnel east of the yellow line.”
The official characterized the strikes as “precise” and consistent with international law, asserting that Hamas had committed more than six violations of the ceasefire established in October. These violations, according to the IDF, included deploying forces east of the “Yellow Line,” a demarcated area agreed upon under the ceasefire to separate Israeli and Hamas-controlled zones.
“Crossing the yellow line in the vicinity of IDF troops, while armed, is an explicit ceasefire violation – and demonstrates how Hamas systematically violates the ceasefire agreement with intent to harm IDF troops,” the official stated.
The escalating violence comes amid ongoing accusations from both sides regarding breaches of the ceasefire deal, a central component of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war. The agreement, brokered by the United States, has been repeatedly challenged by both Israel and Hamas, each alleging the other is not upholding its commitments.
On February 14, the IDF reported identifying armed “terrorists” operating near Israeli personnel in the northern Gaza Strip. The military also stated it continued to destroy underground tunnels in the northern Gaza Strip, in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
The IDF detailed an incident where Air Force aircraft attacked a building after observing several gunmen emerging from a tunnel and entering beneath rubble east of the Yellow Line. The strike reportedly eliminated two gunmen, with the possibility of additional militants also being killed.
Since the beginning of the Gaza deal, the Gaza health ministry has reported at least 600 Palestinian deaths resulting from Israeli fire. Conversely, Israel has reported four soldier fatalities caused by militants in Gaza over the same period.
The renewed violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and raises questions about the long-term prospects for peace in the region. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation if violations continue and tensions are not de-escalated.
