Gaza Death Toll Rises as Israeli Strikes Kill Eleven Despite Ceasefire Agreement
Gaza, 15 February 2026
Israeli military operations killed eleven Palestinians across Gaza on Sunday morning, with strikes targeting tent encampments housing displaced civilians in northern al-Faluja and southern Khan Younis. The deaths add to a mounting toll of over 600 Palestinians killed since the October 2025 US-brokered ceasefire took effect, which Israel has reportedly violated more than 1,600 times according to Gaza officials.
Mounting Casualties Amid Fragile Ceasefire
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a strike on a tent encampment in northern Gaza killed at least six people on Sunday morning, whilst another strike in the southern region resulted in five additional deaths [1]. Israeli forces targeted what they described as ‘terror targets’ in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas, with the military stating that militants had been killed after emerging from a tunnel into Israeli-controlled areas of the strip [1]. Gaza’s civil defence agency provided varying casualty figures, with some sources reporting as many as twelve deaths since dawn on Sunday [2].
Systematic Ceasefire Violations
The violence occurs against a backdrop of systematic ceasefire violations since the US-brokered agreement took effect on 10 October 2025 [1][3]. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the number of Israeli violations now stands at 1,620, whilst the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports at least 600 people have been killed since the ceasefire went into effect [1][3]. Between 28 January and 11 February 2026, 109 Palestinians were killed and 252 were injured, with an additional 10 bodies recovered from under the rubble [4]. The overall Palestinian casualty toll since 7 October 2023 has reached 72,045 fatalities and 171,686 injuries according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza [4].
Impact on Displaced Populations
The strikes particularly affect Gaza’s displaced population, with an estimated 1.4 million people residing in approximately 1,000 displacement sites as of 11 February 2026 [4]. The Israeli military remains deployed in over 50% of the Gaza Strip north, west, and south of the ‘Yellow Line,’ restricting access to humanitarian facilities, infrastructure, and agricultural land [4]. Shelter conditions remain dire for most displaced people, with 230 families living in structures at high risk of collapse [4]. Winter weather and transit delays have caused significant spoilage of food commodities entering Gaza, with 1,500 metric tonnes of spoiled commodities segregated and three of the ten temporary dumping sites at capacity [4].
Regional Implications and Peace Efforts
The continued violence threatens to undermine broader regional stability efforts, particularly as preparations continue for the implementation of the second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement [1]. President Trump announced the creation of a Board of Peace with a UN Security Council mandate to establish an international force for securing Gaza’s border areas and overseeing Hamas disarmament, scheduled for its first meeting in Washington on 19 February [1]. The board will also oversee the formation of a new technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza and coordinate post-war reconstruction efforts [1]. The UN estimates that rebuilding Gaza could cost more than £70 billion [3], highlighting the massive economic implications of the ongoing conflict for the region.