Gaza Conflict: Ceasefire Violations and Trump’s Peace Plan

Recent airstrikes by Israel across the Gaza Strip have raised concerns about the stability of the current ceasefire, just days before the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. The strikes, which Palestinian officials say killed at least 11 Palestinians on Sunday, February 8, 2026, were described by the Israeli military as a response to violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

Recent Airstrikes and Casualties

Palestinian medics reported that an Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment housing displaced families resulted in at least four fatalities. Health officials confirmed five deaths in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, and one individual was shot and killed in the north. Targets included what Israel identified as a commander of the Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, in Gaza City’s Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood.

Accusations and Counter-Accusations

Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesperson in Gaza, accused Israel of perpetrating a “massacre” against displaced Palestinians, characterizing the strikes as a severe breach of the ceasefire. Israeli military officials defended the strikes as “precise” and consistent with international law, asserting that Hamas had repeatedly violated the October ceasefire agreement. Both sides continue to trade blame for ceasefire violations, a key component of Trump’s broader plan to resolve the Gaza war.

The History of the Conflict and Current Ceasefire

The current conflict stems from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s subsequent air and ground offensive in Gaza has led to more than 72,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by Palestinian health ministry data as of February 8, 2026.

Disputed Violations and the “Yellow Line”

An Israeli military official stated that recent strikes were in response to Hamas militants emerging from a tunnel on the Israeli side of the “Yellow Line,” a demarcation agreed upon under the ceasefire to separate Israeli and Hamas-controlled areas. Crossing the Yellow Line while armed is considered a violation of the agreement. But, Israel has unilaterally moved the Yellow Line deeper into Gaza, despite the ceasefire deal including provisions for Israeli withdrawals. Hamas has yet to agree to demands to disarm, a key element of Trump’s peace plan, and Israel has stated it may be forced to disarm Hamas by force if necessary.

Trump’s Board of Peace and Future Prospects

Qassem urged attendees of the first meeting of Trump’s international Board of Peace for Gaza, scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026, to pressure Israel to cease ceasefire violations and fully implement the agreement. The Israeli military continues to destroy underground tunnels in northern Gaza, as stipulated by the agreement, and reported killing at least two militants emerging from a tunnel east of the Yellow Line. Gaza officials have not confirmed these reported casualties.

Casualties Since the Ceasefire

Since the implementation of the Gaza deal, at least 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel reports that four soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza during the same period.

Source: Thomson Reuters 2026