Forty-three days have passed since the beginning of the truce on October 10, just six since the United Nations Security Council approved the controversial peace plan proposed by Donald Trump to guarantee the security and governance of the territory. Meanwhile, the ceasefire has already resulted in at least 300 deaths. Gaza medics said that at least 24 people were killed and at least 54 injured, including children, following several separate new Israeli airstrikes across the Strip against Hamas militants, who, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, have lost five prominent members. Israel claims it launched the offensive after an"armed terrorist" allegedly crossed into an Israeli-held area and fired on troops in southern Gaza. This morning, November 23, Palestinian sources, cited by Arab media, reported"heavy" Israeli air strikes on the city of Rafah."Israel has a policy—approved by mediators—according to which ceasefire violations will be met with an immediate response," a U.S. official told the press, clarifying that the Trump administration"supports" Israeli retaliation.

Hamas has called them"pretexts to kill," rejecting accusations of violating the truce reiterated by Tel Aviv. But there are also rumors that the militants are ready to break the agreement. In the past few hours, some anonymous sources cited by Saudi broadcasters Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported that Hamas had communicated to US envoy Steve Witkoff and to President Trump's negotiator and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, that"the agreement is over and we are ready to fight." But a senior Hamas official called the information reportedly spread by Israeli sources "baseless." Speaking to Quds News Network, Hamas Political Bureau member Izzat al-Rishq urged mediators in Washington to"intervene and force Israel to abide by the agreement." A delegation of senior Hamas officials arrived in Cairo to meet with Egyptian intelligence officials and discuss the recent escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi daily Al-Hadath reported, citing a knowledgeable source. The delegation is also expected to meet with representatives of the mediating countries—Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—to discuss"ways to contain the escalation" and the transition to the second phase of the US president's plan for the future of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting, reiterated that Israel will continue to strike Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza in response to ceasefire violations."We continue to strike terrorism on multiple fronts. This weekend, the Israel Defense Forces struck in Lebanon, and we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing its ability to threaten us." In the last few hours, the IDF announced"a targeted attack targeting a key Hezbollah terrorist in Beirut." The raid reportedly hit the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut."The IDF recently attacked Hezbollah's chief of staff, who has led the terrorist organization's growth and rearmament," the Israeli prime minister's office confirmed, referring to the Lebanese organization's number two, Ali Tabatabai. Regarding Gaza, Netanyahu said,"Since the ceasefire, Hamas has not stopped violating it, and we are acting accordingly. There have been several attempts by them to infiltrate our territory beyond the Yellow Line and harm our soldiers. We have resolutely stopped them and inflicted a very high price. Many terrorists have been eliminated, and terrorists have been captured in the tunnels in Rafah." Regarding what the US calls "approval of the mediators," Netanyahu rejects criticism of alleged coordination with Washington: "All the talk about 'we need to get approval' from this or that side is simply complete lies. Israel acts without relying on anyone and is responsible for its own security."

Truce aside, conditions in Gaza are dire. According to UNRWA, as of November 10, one million Gazans are living in 862 refugee camps, and only 80,000 have found shelter in UNRWA sites. Tents are inadequate, water leaks, the cold is severe, and a dangerous increase in respiratory infections is claiming lives, while no health facility is fully operational: only half of the 36 hospitals are partially functioning, while the WHO is working to restore 20 facilities. The ceasefire has never truly unlocked humanitarian aid. The closure of the Kerem Shalom and Al-Awja crossings, ordered by Israel on November 21 for a holiday, has once again blocked convoys from Egypt, with trucks stuck at the Rafah crossing. UNICEF, UNRWA, and WHO – report a first positive result: between November 9 and 20, over 13,700 children were vaccinated in the catch-up campaign for missed immunizations. Screening identified 508 severely malnourished children, who were referred to dedicated facilities. The second and third phases of the campaign are underway, necessitated by worsening winter conditions. UNICEF, together with the WHO, has the necessary food and medical supplies only until the beginning of 2026. But while the agencies are calling for the entry of additional supplies, particularly for the cold chain, to be facilitated, the Israeli Knesset approved in first reading with 28 votes in favor and 8 against a bill that prohibits the supply of water and electricity to UNRWA properties and allows the state to confiscate land registered by the agency with the Israel Land Authority.