Israeli airstrikes killed five people in Gaza on Wednesday, among them a child, after the fragile ceasefire that had held for weeks fell apart. The strikes hit residential areas in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to local medical officials. The collapse of the truce has plunged the territory back into violence just as humanitarian conditions were already worsening.
What the strikes hit
Witnesses described two separate attacks minutes apart. The first struck a house near the center of Khan Younis, killing a woman and her two children. The second hit a vehicle traveling on a main road, killing two men. All five bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital, where staff confirmed the child's death. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted militants who were preparing to launch rockets, but did not provide immediate evidence.
Why the ceasefire collapsed
The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt and Qatar in late March, had reduced fighting but never fully stopped it. Israel accused Hamas of violating the terms by moving weapons into the buffer zone. Hamas accused Israel of failing to allow enough aid trucks into northern Gaza. Talks to extend the truce broke down over the weekend. By Tuesday, both sides had exchanged fire, and Wednesday's airstrikes marked the first major escalation since the lull began.
Humanitarian toll deepens
The collapse of the ceasefire has exacerbated Gaza's humanitarian crisis. The United Nations reported that food distributions in the south have been cut by half as insecurity prevents trucks from moving. Hospitals are running low on fuel for generators. The strikes also damaged a water well that served about 15,000 people. For civilians, the return to active fighting means a return to the same cycle of displacement, shortages, and fear that defined the war before the pause.
Generational trauma
Beyond the immediate casualties, the renewed violence deepens what many aid workers describe as generational trauma. Children who lived through months of bombardment now face it again. Psychologists in Gaza say rates of bedwetting, nightmares, and withdrawal among kids have spiked since the strikes resumed. Schools remain closed. The constant threat of airstrikes leaves families with nowhere to feel safe.
The question now is whether either side is willing to return to negotiations. Egypt has called for an emergency summit, but no date has been set. For the families burying their dead in Khan Younis, the answer can't come soon enough.
