nieuwe Israëlische luchtaanvallen in Gaza ondermijnen wapenstilstand
Gaza, zondag, 15 februari 2026.
Meerdere Israëlische luchtaanvallen in de Gazastrook hebben zondag minstens elf doden geclaimd. Het leger noemt de acties een gerichte respons op schendingen van het wapenstilstandakkoord. Militanten zouden via tunnels de zogeheten ‘gele lijn’ zijn overgestoken, aldus een woordvoerder. Wat precies mag en mag niet langs deze lijn, is vaak onduidelijk voor burgers. Er heerst grote verwarring over de locatie van de grens. Sinds het ingaan van het staakt-het-vuren zijn ruim 600 Palestijnen gedood. Ondertussen bereidt een nieuw internationaal initiatief zich voor op de ontwapening van Hamas.
escalating violence in the southern strip
At least eleven Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday, according to Palestinian civil defense and health officials [BBC]. Five people died in Khan Younis following an air raid, while another strike hit a tent encampment housing displaced families in northern Gaza, killing six [BBC][Haaretz]. A separate incident in Tal al-Hawa resulted in one fatality, local sources confirmed [Nos][Trendr]. The casualties mark a sharp escalation amid ongoing tensions tied to the fragile ceasefire agreement established in October 2023 [Reuters][Al Jazeera].
israel’s justification and the ‘yellow line’
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated the strikes targeted militant activity in response to ceasefire violations by Hamas [BBC][Reuters]. According to an IDF spokesperson, fighters emerged from a tunnel east of the ‘yellow line,’ prompting military action [Nos][Trendr]. This boundary, marked by yellow concrete blocks, separates areas previously held by Israeli forces after their partial withdrawal last year [Nos][Trendr]. Despite its strategic significance, precise coordinates of the line have never been published, creating confusion among civilians unaware of restricted zones [Nos][Trendr].
humanitarian concerns and rising death toll
Since the ceasefire officially began on October 10, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports at least 601 Palestinian deaths caused by Israeli military actions [Al Jazeera]. Independent verification remains challenging due to access restrictions. Humanitarian organizations warn conditions are deteriorating rapidly, especially in overcrowded displacement camps vulnerable to attacks [BBC][Al Jazeera]. Civilians caught near contested zones face heightened risks as military operations intensify [Nos][Trendr]. The lack of clarity around permitted movement fuels fear and instability across densely populated regions of the strip [Alert! ‘Exact civilian versus combatant breakdown unavailable from open sources’].
broader implications for regional stability
Despite repeated accusations of ceasefire breaches by both parties, diplomatic efforts persist through initiatives like former U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace [BBC][JPost]. Scheduled to convene in mid-February 2026, the council aims to supervise postwar reconstruction, implement disarmament protocols, and support a future technocratic Palestinian administration replacing Hamas governance [JPost][BBC]. Concurrently, Israel reportedly backs local anti-Hamas factions such as Abu Shabab, believed to be dismantling underground infrastructure in Rafah [JPost]. These developments suggest shifting internal dynamics ahead of potential political transitions [JPost].