Gaza ceasefire frays as Israel strikes and kites draw threats

The ceasefire in Gaza, in effect since October 2025, is under severe strain as Israel continues airstrikes and tank fire that have killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry Source: Infobae. The US-brokered truce, overseen by the Trump administration's Peace Board, has not halted Israeli operations, which Israel says target Hamas militants and weapons infrastructure Source: Clarin. Meanwhile, the US envoy for the ceasefire, Nikolay Mladenov, publicly criticized Israel's continued attacks, warning that they undermine the disarmament process and risk a return to full-scale war Source: Clarin.

Kite controversy

A new flashpoint emerged over kites flown by Palestinian children from Gaza into Israeli territory. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to intensify attacks and evacuate areas from which kites are launched, despite confirming that the kites carried no explosives Source: Excelsior. Hamas denies involvement, saying the kites are children's toys, while local committees have urged parents to stop the practice to protect their children Source: La Vanguardia.

Civilian toll

Recent strikes have killed civilians, including children. On Monday, a four-year-old boy died in Bureij camp after an Israeli strike on a house that had received an evacuation order Source: Diario Libre. Another strike killed a 10-year-old girl in Khan Younis Source: Clarin. Israel also bombed a desalination plant in Gaza City, which it said was a Hamas weapons depot, but the army did not confirm the attack on the plant Source: El Diado.

Disagreements

Sources differ on the legitimacy of Israeli strikes: Israel claims they target Hamas infrastructure and militants, citing "imminent threats" Source: ABC, while Palestinian authorities and witnesses describe attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure Source: El Confidencial. The US has privately urged Israel to reduce attacks, but Israel has continued operations Source: Clarin.