Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Gaza continues to count its dead. One more Palestinian was killed Sunday in an Israeli drone strike, while Hamas handed over the remains of three Israeli captives to the Red Cross.
A Fragile Ceasefire Shaken Again
The truce was supposed to bring calm. Instead, it’s unraveling bit by bit. Medics in Gaza said a Palestinian man was killed in the Shujayea neighborhood of Gaza City after an Israeli drone fired on the area Sunday morning.
Israel’s military claimed the man crossed a “yellow line” near its troops — a violation of ceasefire rules — though no evidence was offered. For residents, it’s another grim reminder that even under a ceasefire, death can come without warning.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 236 Palestinians have been killed and more than 600 wounded since the ceasefire began last month. Another 502 bodies have been pulled from the rubble, bringing the total death toll since Israel’s offensive began to a staggering 68,856 people.
That number, if verified, paints a picture of a strip battered to its bones.
Hamas Returns Three Israeli Bodies
On the other side, Hamas handed over three bodies of Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the handover and said the remains would undergo forensic identification at the Abu Kabir Institute in Tel Aviv.
Israeli media, including The Times of Israel, reported that the process could take up to two days. The Israeli government, under existing agreements, must now return the bodies of 45 deceased Palestinian prisoners — fifteen for each Israeli captive handed back.
The exchange adds yet another layer of political sensitivity to an already volatile truce.
In a brief statement, Hamas’s spokesperson said the recovery followed “complex ground searches” east of Gaza City and in Bani Suheila, a southern town hit hard by Israeli bombings. The operation was carried out in coordination with the ICRC, using “external machinery” to lift heavy rubble.
Search Teams Battle Rubble and Rumors
Red Cross officials, working with Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades, are scouring debris-strewn neighborhoods for the remaining bodies of Israeli captives. Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh reported from Amman that the teams were moving “beyond the Yellow Line” — the demarcation for ceasefire operations — using excavators and bulldozers in areas still laced with unexploded ordnance.
“It’s slow and dangerous work,” Odeh said. “Hundreds of tonnes of concrete, entire blocks flattened. And nobody really knows how many bodies lie underneath.”
Here’s a snapshot of the situation on the ground, according to local humanitarian groups:
| Area | Current Condition | Ceasefire Status | Search Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shujayea, Gaza City | Active demolitions by Israeli forces | Fragile | Ongoing |
| Bani Suheila | Major destruction; rubble removal in progress | Partial calm | Three bodies recovered |
| Khan Younis | Sporadic shelling | Unstable | None reported |
Odeh added that U.S. officials believe the search for the remaining eight Israeli bodies could stretch for weeks. “It will be up to the Trump administration to push Israel and Hamas to honor the deal,” she said, hinting at Washington’s growing frustration over the slow progress.
The Toll on Gaza’s Civilians
Meanwhile, life for Gaza’s civilians is collapsing. Food deliveries have slowed to a trickle. Hospitals still run on backup generators. Water, when available, often smells of diesel or rust.
Residents say Israeli forces have kept strict control over what aid enters the strip. Trucks carrying flour and medical supplies wait days at checkpoints. Others never make it through.
“I lost my son to hunger before I lost him to bombs,” said 46-year-old Um Rami, speaking by phone from Deir al-Balah. Her voice cracked. “The ceasefire is for the politicians, not for us.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) estimates that over 1.4 million people in Gaza are now internally displaced, many sleeping in tents or classrooms. Aid groups have urged Israel to ease its restrictions, saying the humanitarian situation “has reached breaking point.”
U.S. Accusations and Hamas’s Fury
The tension grew even hotter this weekend when U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) accused Hamas of looting an aid truck in Khan Younis. The U.S. claimed drone footage showed “suspected Hamas elements” commandeering humanitarian supplies.
But Gaza’s Government Media Office slammed the accusation, calling it “a fabricated smear” intended to discredit local authorities.
“This accusation is completely false and comes as part of a systematic campaign to distort the image of Palestinian police forces,” the statement read. “Every aid truck entering Gaza is monitored by international and local agencies.”
The dispute exposes a growing distrust between Washington and Hamas, even as U.S. diplomats try to preserve the fragile ceasefire.
Netanyahu Faces Domestic Pressure
Back in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a different kind of battle — one of politics and public anger. Families of remaining hostages have rallied outside his residence, demanding faster action. Opposition lawmakers accuse him of stalling negotiations for political gain.
His office released a short statement confirming receipt of the three bodies but offered no new details on upcoming phases of the truce. The government’s position remains tied to the return of all bodies before it will agree to expand the ceasefire or discuss prisoner exchanges.
For now, that keeps Gaza’s civilians trapped in limbo — not quite at war, but nowhere near peace either.
Aid Still Choked at Crossings
At Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, aid trucks wait in the scorching sun for Israeli clearance. Some drivers have been stuck for four days. Egyptian officials say delays are due to “extended Israeli inspections.”
One truck driver, Ahmed Suleiman, described the scene plainly: “We just sit here, engines off, waiting for someone in Tel Aviv to sign a paper.”
Humanitarian agencies say that out of 150 trucks cleared for Gaza last week, only 48 entered.
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34 carried food and water
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10 carried medical equipment
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4 carried tents and blankets
That’s barely enough to serve a fraction of Gaza’s displaced population.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for “immediate and unfettered access” for humanitarian convoys, saying that “a ceasefire without aid is not a ceasefire, it’s a pause in suffering.”
The Ceasefire’s Uncertain Future
Despite repeated assurances from U.S. officials, few in Gaza or Israel believe the truce will hold much longer. The drone strike in Shujayea, the continued demolitions, and the mistrust between all sides make the ceasefire feel more like an intermission than a resolution.
For now, the people of Gaza live under skies that can turn deadly in an instant. And somewhere beneath the rubble, the dead are still waiting to be found.
