Gaza ceasefire frays amid strikes

Israeli strikes hit Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza on May 23, according to Al Jazeera footage that showed attacks injuring dozens despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement. The strikes added to months of reported violations since the U.S.-brokered truce took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, under a deal that was supposed to halt military operations, open crossings and begin reconstruction. (cbc.ca) (aljazeera.com) More than 800 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, CBC reported on May 23, underscoring how little protection the arrangement has provided. (cbc.ca) Hamas officials say the toll is even higher and accuse Israel of hollowing out the agreement while mediators focus on disarmament rather than implementation. ### Why are strikes still hitting central Gaza if a ceasefire is in place? Al Jazeera said on May 23 that Israeli forces struck Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza, with video showing the attacks and reporting dozens wounded. (cbc.ca) The outlet described the strikes as taking place despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement. (cbc.ca) January reporting from Al Jazeera had already described repeated Israeli attacks in areas outside direct military control after the ceasefire took effect. An April 10 explainer by the same outlet said the deal called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, including a halt to ground and air operations and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from populated areas. (palestinechronicle.com) (aljazeera.com) ### How many people have been killed since the truce began? CBC reported on May 23 that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. (aljazeera.com) The broadcaster said persistent violence and blocked aid were putting the U.S. plan for Gaza under growing strain. (aljazeera.com) Basem Naim, a Hamas official, gave a higher figure in comments reported by Palestine Chronicle, saying about 900 Palestinians had been killed and 2,600 wounded since the October deal was signed. The differing counts reflect the fragmented information environment around Gaza, but both accounts point to sustained deadly violence months into the truce. (aljazeera.com) (cbc.ca) ### What parts of the agreement remain unfulfilled? Basem Naim said reconstruction provisions remain largely unimplemented and that the Rafah crossing has not reopened, according to Palestine Chronicle. (cbc.ca) He accused Israel of carrying out daily violations and rejected a proposal by Nikolay Mladenov, saying mediators were ignoring Israeli breaches and core ceasefire terms. (palestinechronicle.com) An April 10 Al Jazeera explainer said the agreement was supposed to reduce direct contact with civilians through withdrawal from populated areas and to pair the ceasefire with broader humanitarian steps. (cbc.ca) CBC reported that progress on reconstruction had stalled as the Board of Peace blamed Hamas’s refusal to disarm. (palestinechronicle.com) ### Why is the Board of Peace under criticism? Nikolay Mladenov, identified by CBC as the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, said last week that the truce hinged on Hamas disarmament. He said months without progress benefited neither Israel nor Palestinians, but his emphasis on disarmament has become a focal point for criticism. (palestinechronicle.com) CBC said the Board of Peace blames Hamas’s refusal to disarm for the lack of progress. (aljazeera.com) Critics cited in the source briefings argue that approach places responsibility for the stalled truce mainly on Hamas while reported Israeli obligations — including reconstruction and border measures — remain unmet. (cbc.ca) That criticism is consistent with Hamas’s own account, though the underlying claims come from parties to the conflict and should be read in that context. (cbc.ca) ### What happens next in this ceasefire? The next test is whether mediators can move from arguments over Hamas disarmament to implementation of the deal’s pending provisions, including reconstruction and the Rafah crossing. (cbc.ca) Mladenov remains the named envoy tied to the U.S.-backed process, and Hamas has publicly rejected his current approach. (cbc.ca) May 23 became the latest marker of how fragile the arrangement is, with fresh strikes in central Gaza and no public sign that the core disputes over enforcement, crossings and rebuilding had been resolved by Sunday, May 24, 2026. (cbc.ca) (aljazeera.com) (palestinechronicle.com)