An Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday, according to health officials. Concurrently, mediators engaged in discussions with Hamas leaders to reinforce a ceasefire deal brokered by the United States.
Medical personnel reported that one strike targeted a group of men outside a school in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, resulting in three fatalities. Another strike occurred at a café in Gaza City, killing one person and injuring another. The Israeli military did not provide a comment on either incident.
At Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, the deceased individuals were laid to rest in white shrouds outside the morgue, where grieving relatives and friends gathered to pay their respects. Some mourners kissed the foreheads of the victims before holding special prayers.
Expressing dismay over the ongoing violence, Umm Hussam Abu El-Rous, a relative of one of the victims, lamented the loss, highlighting the impact on families, including young children left without fathers.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect on October 9, 2025, has not brought a complete halt to Israeli attacks in Gaza. The deal delineates control zones, with Israeli troops occupying a significant portion of Gaza and Hamas governing a narrow coastal strip, while Israeli airstrikes persist.
Since the ceasefire, over 750 Palestinians have lost their lives, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, with four Israeli soldiers killed in militant attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms.
Recent discussions in Cairo between Hamas leaders and Palestinian factions, alongside mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, aim to advance the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza deal. However, Hamas’s disarmament remains a key sticking point in the broader peace plan, further complicated by external factors like the conflict in Iran.
Notably, Hamas has insisted on Israel fulfilling the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement before progressing with disarmament talks. Israeli military officials have indicated readiness to escalate to full-scale conflict if Hamas does not comply.
The Gaza war, which commenced on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-initiated attack on Israel, led to significant casualties and destruction on both sides. Israel’s subsequent military campaign resulted in extensive Palestinian casualties and widespread devastation in Gaza.