‘Pervasive fear’ grips Gaza as Israeli attacks persist despite ceasefire

Israeli military operations have continued in Gaza, creating a challenging situation despite an official ceasefire that remains in place. A recent drone strike tragically killed a young woman and **injured** fifteen others near Khan Younis. Later, another attack near Gaza City harmed a child. These incidents followed the deaths of at least eleven people, including a family, just one day before.

The ongoing attacks have led to a "dark reality" for residents of the Gaza **enclave**. People experience a constant state of fear, displacement, and loss. Crossings out of Gaza remain closed, making it difficult for people to receive medical help or humanitarian aid. Since the ceasefire officially started in October, almost 950 people have been killed and nearly 3,000 injured by Israeli actions.

To address this serious situation, Palestinian **factions** are heading to Egypt for important discussions. They aim to finalize the first phase of the ceasefire, which includes releasing Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees. They also want to stop the ongoing Israeli attacks and move towards the second phase. This next phase should involve Hamas disarming and Israel gradually withdrawing its military. However, Hamas has stated that it will not surrender its weapons now, but is open to a future where a Palestinian police force is the only group with openly visible weapons.