Gaza City – As casualties mount near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, the Israeli military has tightened its restrictions on movement, triggering a coastal exodus. Palestinians are now barred from entering northern Gaza, including Gaza City, and are only permitted to move south on foot using the coastal road, according to a recent military announcement.
Intensified Restrictions and Airstrikes
The intensified restrictions follow a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. Local health officials report that recent strikes have resulted in at least 85 Palestinian deaths, bringing the total to at least 592 in the past three days, after Israel unilaterally ended a ceasefire agreement. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported nearly 200 deaths in the past three days. These figures have not been independently verified and do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
IDF Operations
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it struck over 150 targets within Gaza in the last 72 hours, specifying these included “terror operatives, buildings used by terror groups, and other infrastructure.” In a separate incident, a drone strike in Deir al-Balah resulted in the death of Nasser Juma, identified by the IDF as a Hamas commander and a veteran member of Hamas’s rocket production unit.
Hamas Response
In response to the latest airstrikes, Hamas fired three rockets at Israel, marking the first time Hamas has fired rockets at Israel since the truce ended. These rockets caused no casualties.
Civilian Casualties
Adding to the crisis, Al Jazeera reports that at least 39 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike and drone attack on a restaurant and market in Gaza.
Humanitarian Crisis
The tightened restrictions and ongoing conflict exacerbate the existing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which already faces a high risk of famine. The situation is further complicated by the backdrop of broken ceasefires; a temporary ceasefire in November 2023 and a second ceasefire in January 2025 both ended, contributing to the current escalation. Over 52,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been reported killed since the start of the Israeli offensive.
