Despite claims of a renewed truce, Israeli airstrikes hit Khan Younis, leaving Gaza residents trapped between hope for peace and fear of another full-scale war.
For many in Gaza, the so-called ceasefire feels like little more than a pause between storms. Israeli warplanes and artillery have continued to strike areas in southern Gaza, including the hard-hit city of Khan Younis, despite Israel’s announcement that it had returned to a truce two days ago.
Residents say they are living in constant fear, unsure whether each night will bring silence or explosions. “We hear drones all the time,” said one Khan Younis resident. “It doesn’t feel like peace — just waiting for the next bomb.”
Life Under a “Ceasefire”
While the word ceasefire suggests relief, the reality on the ground is starkly different. Gaza’s displaced families continue to search for food, clean water, and shelter, many of them relying on aid that barely reaches them through damaged supply routes. The ongoing tension has left humanitarian workers warning that any further escalation could push the region into deeper crisis.
Adding to the grim picture, Hamas returned the bodies of two more deceased Israeli captives this week. Israeli authorities confirmed their identities, renewing painful memories of the October 7, 2023 attacks, when 1,139 people were killed in Israel and around 200 taken captive.
A War Without End
Since the war began in October 2023, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed at least 68,527 people and wounded more than 170,000 others, according to local health officials. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and even as talks of peace surface, the skies over Gaza tell a different story.
The question for many remains: Can there be a ceasefire without peace?
A Region Waiting for Real Peace
For now, Gaza’s residents live between hope and heartbreak, trying to rebuild amid uncertainty. Each airstrike reignites trauma, reminding them how fragile any sense of safety truly is.
Until the guns fall silent for good, the people of Gaza will continue to carry the heaviest cost of a war that seems far from over.