Arabic version: إسرائيل تكثف عملياتها العسكرية في غزة، وارتفاع عدد الضحايا

Israel has escalated its attacks on the Gaza Strip in the past week, with at least four Palestinians killed across the devastated enclave, including a 40-year-old woman in Khan Younis. According to Al Jazeera, more than 25 Palestinians have been killed in the past week alone, taking the number of people killed since the ceasefire to more than 800.

The Israeli military has intensified its targeting of Palestinian police officers, recently acknowledging the killing of six officers it claimed were involved in planning imminent strikes, although it provided no proof that they were planning to attack. Analysts argue these targeted strikes are part of a broader strategy to maintain a state of war and undermine the US-brokered agreement.

Simultaneously, Israeli forces are advancing further into western Gaza and expanding the “yellow line” delineating areas under Israeli military control by 37 kilometers. This means Israel now controls approximately 60 percent of the enclave, effectively partitioning Palestinian territory and severely restricting freedom of movement.

The escalation comes as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), established under a previous U.S. administration, faces operational paralysis. Critics argue that Israel has intentionally sidelined this committee to prevent any political progress or stability in the region. The ceasefire agreement, initially brokered by the U.S., appears to be unraveling as Israel continues military operations while demanding disarmament from Hamas, which has stated it would not disarm until Israeli forces are no longer occupying Palestinian territory.

As the situation remains dire, the prospect of establishing a functional administration in Gaza continues to diminish, leaving many Palestinians feeling abandoned and without agency in their own governance.