Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon test fragile ceasefires

Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon test fragile ceasefires
Palestinians at the site of a collapsed house that was damaged during the war by an Israeli strike, central Gaza Strip, 5 January, 2026
Reuters

Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon have raised fresh concerns about the durability of ceasefire agreements, after deadly attacks were reported in both territories.

In the southern Gaza Strip, at least two Palestinians were killed and four others injured when an Israeli strike hit the city of Khan Younis on Monday, 5 January, according to officials at Nasser Hospital, the area’s main medical facility.

Hospital staff said those killed were a young girl and her uncle. The strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people.

The area targeted was one from which Israeli forces had previously withdrawn under a ceasefire that came into effect on 10 October.

Since then, Gaza’s health authorities say more than 420 Palestinians have been killed in related violence, while Palestinian militants have killed several Israeli soldiers.

Strikes extend to Lebanon

Israel also carried out air and drone strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, saying it was targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for four villages (Hammara, Ain el-Tineh, Kfar Hatta and Aanan) citing militant activity in the area.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that a drone strike on a vehicle in the southern village of Braikeh wounded two people.

Israeli authorities said the vehicle was carrying two Hezbollah members, accusing the group of repeated threats and violations of the truce.

Additional strikes were reported in southern and eastern Lebanon, including near the coastal city of Sidon. Lebanese officials said one civilian was injured. Israel said the sites hit were used by Hezbollah and Hamas.

There was no immediate response from Hamas or Hezbollah.

Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinians who, according to medics, were killed in an Israeli strike on Monday, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, 6 January, 2026
Reuters

Ceasefire under strain

The latest attacks come amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect in late 2024, following more than a year of cross-border fighting.

Monitoring groups and Lebanese officials say the truce has been marked by repeated violations, with hundreds of Israeli air strikes reported in southern Lebanon since the agreement began.

Despite ceasefire arrangements, regional tensions remain high, fuelling fears that renewed violence could further destabilise the area.

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