Deadly Israeli attack on Gaza brings death toll since ceasefire to 280

At least one Palestinian was killed and two others, a woman and her child, were injured in new Israeli attacks on southern Gaza, according to the Wafa news agency and medical sources. The fatality occurred on Wednesday in the Qizan an-Najjar area south of Khan Younis, a source at Nasser Hospital told Al Jazeera. Earlier in the day, a drone strike on the nearby town of Bani Suheila seriously wounded a woman and her child.

These casualties add to the 279 Palestinians already killed and more than 650 injured in what Gaza’s Government Media Office says are nearly 400 Israeli violations of the US-brokered October 10 ceasefire. The office urged “US President Donald Trump, the mediating countries, the guarantors of the agreement, and the UN Security Council to take serious and effective action to stop these attacks, restrain the occupation, and compel it to strictly adhere to the terms of the ceasefire and the humanitarian protocol, thereby ensuring the protection of civilians and putting an end to the escalating violations”.

The call came just one day after the United Nations Security Council approved a US-drafted resolution, part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which mandates a transitional administration and an international stabilisation force in Gaza. The resolution passed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining, and aims to create what the US describes as a “credible pathway” to Palestinian statehood.

Trump praised recent developments during a news conference in Washington, DC, held alongside visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “A lot of progress has been made with respect to Gaza and just about everything else we touch,” he said. Trump also stated that the UNSC had “formally adopted my peace plan and officially endorsed the board of peace,” explaining that the board would ultimately include leaders from major countries. Hosting MBS at the White House for dinner, Trump said, “I hope your highness will be on the board,” and thanked him for helping secure the ceasefire.

According to the UNSC resolution, the board will function as an interim administration responsible for security, services and reconstruction. Its mandate runs until the end of 2027, although how it will be implemented on the ground remains unclear.

Immediate challenges on the ground

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said that Palestinians are currently more focused on daily survival than on Trump’s political plans, which remain largely abstract to them. “They worry about waking up in the morning and trying to get clean drinking water into their displacement areas,” he said. People also worry about “the next heavy rainfall, how to stay dry and how to protect their children”.

Mahmoud added that above all, Palestinians want clarity on whether they will be allowed to return to their homes. This is especially complicated for those from eastern Gaza, which has been designated a “yellow area” under Israeli control as part of the October ceasefire. Homes, neighbourhoods, and livelihoods in these zones have been destroyed, and Israel has repeatedly fired on Palestinians attempting to check on their properties.

“Political diplomacy is not changing the course of things on the ground for them so far,” Mahmoud noted. People need a clear plan to end violence, reopen crossings, restore access to food and water, and stabilise daily life.

‘Winter is coming’ for Palestinians

Under the ceasefire, aid deliveries were supposed to increase significantly, with at least 600 trucks entering daily. But actual numbers have fallen far short, and the UN warns that Gaza’s hunger crisis remains catastrophic.

Trump has also highlighted the return of Israeli captives as part of his peace plan, though he incorrectly stated that Hamas still holds two bodies instead of the correct number, three. At the start of the truce, Hamas held 20 living captives and 28 bodies. In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned hundreds of Palestinian bodies.

Trump claimed that Palestinians in Gaza are “beginning to move back to their homes” and now have “a lot more safety than they’ve ever had before”. However, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini challenged these assertions in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic. He said residents are suffering from disease, displacement and extremely limited supplies. “The aid entering Gaza is insufficient, and food is unavailable due to high prices,” he said.

With winter approaching, Lazzarini warned that rain and cold will worsen conditions. He said Gaza’s crossings must be opened urgently to deliver the aid people desperately need.