Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Result in Civilian Casualties Amid Tensions

On February 15, 2026, Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The strikes were reportedly executed in response to alleged ceasefire violations by the militant group Hamas. Casualties included at least four individuals killed in a tent encampment housing displaced families in Jabaliya, while additional airstrikes claimed the lives of five people in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. One more individual was reported dead in Gaza City, with further casualties noted in Beit Lahia.

The attacks have deepened the current violence, which follows a fragile ceasefire that has frequently been violated by both sides. Hazem Qassem, a spokesperson for Hamas, accused Israel of conducting a ‘massacre’ against displaced persons, stressing that these actions constitute a significant breach of the ceasefire agreement, which was crucial ahead of the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace.

An Israeli military spokesperson defended the airstrikes as ‘precise’ and compliant with international law, claiming that Hamas had violated the ceasefire multiple times since it took effect on October 10, 2023. The ceasefire, brokered with U.S. support, has struggled to maintain peace, with accusations of violations being exchanged almost daily.

In a statement, an Israeli military official pointed out that the recent airstrikes followed an incident in Beit Hanoun, where Hamas militants allegedly emerged from a tunnel within the areas determined by the ceasefire agreement. The military identified this movement as a clear violation of the agreed terms, stating, ‘Crossing the Yellow Line in the vicinity of IDF troops, while armed, is an explicit ceasefire violation.’ Israel has previously moved this Yellow Line further into Gaza, complicating the already tense situation.

The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, triggered by a Hamas attack on southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties. Since then, the Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly led to the deaths of more than 72,000 Palestinians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

As the death toll mounts, pressure mounts on leaders attending the upcoming peace meeting to commit to implementing the ceasefire effectively. U.S. officials indicated that President Trump would present a substantial reconstruction plan for Gaza at the meeting, along with a proposal for a stabilisation force to be penned under United Nations auspices.

As humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate, the Gaza health ministry indicated that around 600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while Israel states that its forces have lost four soldiers during the same period. The situation remains dire as efforts to bring lasting peace to the region are jeopardised by renewed violence and distrust between the parties involved.