Gaza’s post-ceasefire period settles into strikes and infrastructure strain

An Israeli strike on a car in Gaza City killed two people on Sunday, according to the Associated Press, another sign that the post-ceasefire period has not ended lethal military activity in the enclave. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas military-wing operatives. Gaza health authorities say Israeli airstrikes have killed 1,369 Palestinians since the October 2025 ceasefire announcement.¹

The incident fits a broader pattern: conflict at a lower intensity than the war’s peak, but with recurring targeted strikes, continuing casualties and persistent restrictions or delays affecting the systems civilians rely on. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in its latest situation report that 91% of assessed Gaza households face moderate to high water insecurity. Delayed approvals for engine oil and spare parts are threatening water, sanitation, health and solid-waste services.²

Why it matters

For humanitarian responders, Gaza’s current risk profile is not defined only by headline casualty figures. It is also shaped by the cumulative failure of basic infrastructure. Water pumping, sewage management, hospital operations, waste collection and disease control all depend on equipment, spare parts and fuel-linked supplies that require timely access.²

OCHA warned that communicable-disease risks remain a concern in Gaza, where damaged infrastructure, displacement and limited service capacity can turn water and sanitation breakdowns into public-health emergencies.² In practical terms, even reduced combat intensity can remain dangerous for civilians if essential systems continue to degrade.

Targeted strikes continue

Israeli forces have continued to report operations against Hamas figures in Gaza since the ceasefire announcement. Reuters-based reporting carried by La Jornada said Israeli troops killed Hamas commander Mohammed Abdel Salam al-Yazouri and other Hamas figures in strikes, underscoring the persistence of Israel’s targeted-strike campaign despite the ceasefire framework.³ The Economist’s morning briefing also noted Israel’s statement that it had killed al-Yazouri, described as a senior Hamas commander reportedly involved in planning the October 7 attack.⁴

Those reports point to the central dynamic now shaping Gaza: Israel continues to frame strikes as counter-Hamas operations, while Palestinian authorities and humanitarian agencies describe an ongoing civilian toll and deteriorating living conditions.¹²

Infrastructure bottlenecks deepen civilian exposure

The infrastructure picture is especially acute around water. OCHA’s finding that 91% of assessed households face moderate to high water insecurity suggests the crisis is widespread rather than isolated.² Delays in approvals for engine oil and spare parts matter because they can interrupt pumps, generators, treatment facilities, health facilities and waste systems — core services that reduce disease and keep displaced communities functioning.²

The Next Century Foundation’s weekly Gaza briefing for September 5–11 similarly compiled post-ceasefire casualty, aid, crossing and humanitarian-access data, reinforcing the picture of a territory where violence and access constraints continue at the same time.⁵

The bottom line

Gaza’s post-ceasefire reality is best understood as a persistent, lower-intensity conflict environment rather than a settled recovery phase. Targeted Israeli strikes are continuing, Palestinian casualties are still rising, and unresolved infrastructure-access bottlenecks are leaving civilians exposed to worsening water, sanitation and health risks.¹²