Israeli occupation forces carried out new airstrikes and opened fire on areas in southern Gaza early Thursday, in fresh violations of the ceasefire agreement, leaving several Palestinians wounded.
Air raids struck eastern Rafah and Khan Younis, followed by renewed helicopter gunfire targeting eastern Khan Younis. The attacks coincided with continued shelling of sites inside and beyond Israeli troop deployment zones.
In Gaza City, 11 Palestinians were injured when an Israeli drone struck a group of civilians in an area from which Israeli forces had withdrawn under the ceasefire. An artillery shell also landed amid civilians in the al-Samer area.
The UN reports that the recent storms in the Gaza Strip have affected nearly 55,000 Palestinian families, damaging or destroying their homes and belongings.
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 18, 2025
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said heavy rain has also damaged dozens of child-friendly spaces, forcing the suspension… pic.twitter.com/8U69YcrAHR
The escalation comes as Israeli occupation forces maintain control over Gaza’s southern and eastern corridors, as well as large parts of northern Gaza, occupying nearly 60% of the enclave despite the ceasefire in effect since October.
According to official Palestinian sources, the Israeli occupation has committed hundreds of ceasefire violations since the agreement began, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians amid what they describe as an ongoing campaign of devastation that has left tens of thousands killed or wounded and caused widespread destruction across Gaza.