Gaza on the Brink: International Warnings of Imminent War Return

Five Palestinians were killed overnight Wednesday in an Israeli military escalation that included a strike on a home in Gaza City's al-Daraj neighborhood, wounding the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya. The dead include a senior Hamas security official, as the fragile ceasefire agreement faces collapse.

Israeli forces have ramped up targeted operations against dozens of Hamas operatives across the strip, while simultaneously intensifying house demolitions and artillery shelling in eastern and northern areas along the so-called "yellow line" buffer zone. Field adjustments to troop positions have expanded Israeli territorial control from 53% to 59% of areas previously outside its grip.

The military escalation coincides with a deadlock in negotiations. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported a "serious crisis" between Hamas and mediators over the issue of disarmament, with talks between U.S. envoy Nickolay Mladenov and a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya reaching an impasse.

According to Kan, Hamas conditions moving to the second phase of the agreement on full implementation of the first phase, while Israel refuses to withdraw from the yellow line. In a statement late Wednesday, al-Hayya affirmed the group's readiness to discuss phase two, but only if Israel fulfills its obligations under phase one. He stressed the need for guarantors and mediators to hold Israel to the signed agreement.

Days earlier, Kan reported that Israeli government ministers had discussed preparations for a possible resumption of fighting in Gaza, following what Israel views as a negative response from Hamas. Al-Hayya accused Israel of putting mediators and guarantors—especially the Americans who underwrote the deal—before their responsibilities.

International organizations operating in Gaza have issued warnings to their staff about the potential for a broad military escalation. One such advisory urged personnel to "minimize movement and stay in safe places until further notice" amid the possibility of intensified airstrikes and shelling.

Earlier, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the military had deployed approximately six brigades to increase pressure on Hamas in Gaza.