Mutual accusations over ceasefire violations
Over the weekend, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza came under new strain as Israel and Hamas each accused the other of breaking the terms of the deal that has broadly held for more than six weeks. Israeli officials said militants had launched sporadic rocket and mortar fire toward southern Israel and attempted to move fighters closer to the border fence under cover of the truce. Hamas and other Palestinian factions countered that Israel had carried out limited airstrikes and ground incursions near buffer zones and opened fire around areas where civilians were trying to move or farm. Humanitarian groups working inside Gaza reported that aid deliveries, which had begun to move more regularly under the agreement, were disrupted in some corridors as security concerns flared. Diplomats and analysts warned that even small-scale violations, if not contained quickly, risked creating a cycle of retaliation that could unravel the ceasefire entirely.

International mediators under pressure to salvage calm
Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been working to keep both sides committed to the deal, framing the latest incidents as serious but still manageable breaches rather than a full collapse. Israel’s government faces domestic pressure from families of hostages still held in Gaza, who argue that the lull has not delivered enough progress on releases, while hardline voices push for a return to broad military operations. Hamas, for its part, is struggling to maintain authority and provide basic services to a population exhausted by months of fighting and displacement, even as smaller armed groups operate with relative autonomy. United Nations officials warned that any sharp escalation would further strain Gaza’s already devastated health system and complicate efforts to shelter hundreds of thousands of displaced people before winter weather worsens. With neither side ready to declare the ceasefire dead, but trust at a low point, the coming days are likely to determine whether the truce can be repaired or gives way to another round of large-scale conflict with regional consequences.