Intense Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip over the past day has killed more than 100 Palestinians, putting the recently-agreed ceasefire in danger.
As has been the case in the two-year-old war, its mostly civilians who bear the brunt of the attacks. Gaza’s civil defence agency says at least 35 children were among the dead from fresh Israeli attacks.
UN rights chief Volker Turk said the attacks had reportedly hit schools, homes and tents for internally displaced people within the Palestinian territory. He said Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, and would be accountable for any violations.
“The past two years have brought untold suffering and misery, and the near wholesale destruction of Gaza. We must not allow this opportunity for peace and a path towards a more just and secure future to slip from our grasp,” he said.
The ceasefire agreement in Gaza had stirred cautious hope across a weary region. For months, the enclave has been the epicentre of unimaginable human suffering — families displaced, infrastructure devastated, and countless innocent lives lost.
Yet even as the world called for calm and restraint, the renewed bombardments over the past day have once again shaken the fragile foundations of peace.
Every breach of calm deepens despair and delays the path to stability.
The people of Gaza, already struggling under dire humanitarian conditions, are in desperate need of sustained relief, not fleeting truces interrupted by fresh waves of violence.
Qatar has continued to play a central role in mediation, tirelessly working alongside regional and international partners to bridge divides and restore dialogue. Its balanced diplomacy — built on credibility, humanitarian commitment, and impartiality — has been instrumental in facilitating ceasefire talks and humanitarian aid efforts.
The events of recent days are a sobering reminder that peace requires more than pauses in fighting. It demands accountability, political will, and a genuine commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict — occupation, displacement, and the denial of basic rights. Without a durable political framework that ensures security for all, ceasefires will remain temporary reprieves rather than lasting solutions.
As global voices grow louder in urging restraint and protection of civilians, there remains a glimmer of hope that diplomacy can prevail over destruction. Both sides must abide by the ceasefire agreement and respect the truce.
