Israeli forces killed three Palestinians near the Gaza yellow line on Monday, highlighting the difficulty of expanding a fragile ceasefire that was praised internationally when agreed more than six weeks ago. Palestinian medics reported a drone strike east of Khan Younis that killed two people and wounded another, while a tank shell killed one person near Gaza City.
Moreover, Israel’s military said its troops opened fire after identifying individuals it described as “terrorists” attempting to cross the restricted zone, arguing that they posed an immediate threat. Tensions escalated further when Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced it had located the body of a hostage in an area controlled by Israeli forces, though it did not specify when it would transfer the remains.
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The October 9 truce between Hamas and Israel halted two years of intense warfare but left major disputes unresolved, freezing the conflict without delivering a long-term solution. Hamas released 20 surviving hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, while both sides also agreed to return the remains of hundreds of fighters and hostages.
Additionally, each party has accused the other of violating commitments and obstructing steps outlined in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. Palestinian officials said at least 342 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce began, while Israel reported three soldiers killed by fighters during the same period.
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Last week, the UN Security Council formally endorsed Trump’s plan, which calls for an interim technocratic Palestinian government, an international “board of peace,” and a multinational security force. However, negotiations remain difficult as Israel insists the force must disarm Hamas, while Hamas argues such moves are impossible without guarantees of eventual Palestinian statehood.
Furthermore, talks in Cairo and the West Bank revealed deep concerns about the next phase of the ceasefire, especially the unclear structure and deployment of the proposed security force. Palestinian officials warned that introducing foreign forces without a political agreement involving all factions could worsen instability and derail fragile diplomatic progress.