Gaza War Sees Eased Israeli Strikes but Persistent Palestinian Wariness
Israeli strikes in Gaza have eased in recent days, bringing a fragile calm that leaves displaced Palestinians wary of renewed violence despite a Trump-announced Hamas disarmament deal and plans for an international stabilization force. In the Gaza war, the relentless sound of warplanes, the buzz of drones overhead, and the strikes across the Gaza Strip have subsided over the past few days, leaving Palestinians wary of what could come next. [1]
Easing of Strikes and Fragile Calm in Gaza
A fragile calm prevails among Palestinians, who have been repeatedly promised truces only to find themselves caught in renewed Israeli fire and strikes. [1] Palestinians in Gaza report relative quiet after weeks of warplane, drone, and strike activity, but remain skeptical of truces after previous broken promises and recent deaths including 12 martyrs in one day. [1] “Things are relatively quiet. We are hoping that this truce will hold, and the situation improves, and we return to our homes,” said Youssef Maarouf, who was displaced from Jabaliya in northern Gaza and now lives in an overcrowded displacement camp in Gaza City. [1] For Palestinians in Gaza, President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that Hamas had agreed to disarm was a small sign of hope, but they fear Israel will not withdraw its forces and they will not be able to return to their homes any time soon. [1] “We handed over their hostages, but to no avail. Disarmament will also not be in our favor,” said Ahmed al-Sharif. [1] Elsewhere in the tent camp, Abdul Basset Abdul Hadi also said that Palestinians have little faith in truces. He said a few days ago, they “had 12 martyrs in one day.” [1]
Displaced Palestinians' Living Conditions
Most of Gaza's 2 million residents are displaced in overcrowded tent camps facing rodent infestations, poor health, diseases, and cancers, with many expressing little faith that disarmament or Israeli withdrawal will allow returns home soon. [1] Most of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians are still displaced or live in tent camps, where poor conditions and overcrowding left them wrestling with rodent infestations, poor health conditions and diseases. [1] “We and our children are dead. We have caught all diseases and cancers,” said Soada Abu Abdu, 64, as she sat helplessly on the floor. [1] Palestinians in Gaza remain wary as Israeli strikes ease, with residents expressing skepticism that the current lull will lead to lasting returns home. [1] Many displaced families continue to face the same conditions that have persisted through earlier phases of the Gaza war, including limited access to basic services in the camps. [1]
Israeli ministers discuss renewed Gaza attacks and reject Trump's ceasefire proposal. — Source: anadolu
Trump Ceasefire Deal and Israeli Opposition
Israeli ministers are pressing Netanyahu to reject the second phase of Trump's ceasefire roadmap and resume attacks, with Israel voicing serious security concerns over the deal. [2] [3] Last week Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. [3] According to that deal, the ISF would be deployed to Gaza after the completion of a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops. [3] The agreement, part of a broader ceasefire deal reached last year, calls for Israel to cease its military operations and for Hamas and its allies in Gaza to halt all militant activity. [3] After the text of the agreement was released, Israel said it had “serious security concerns” and that it shared those with the US. [3] Security Cabinet members press Netanyahu to oppose 2nd phase of Trump plan. [2] Israeli ministers call for renewed Gaza attacks, rejection of Trump's ceasefire roadmap. [2]
Uganda's Troop Deployment Vote
Uganda's parliament voted to deploy troops to the proposed 20,000-strong International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, joining pledges from Morocco and three other nations; the ISF would secure the territory after phased Israeli withdrawal under the Trump plan. [3] [4] Uganda's parliament voted on Thursday to deploy troops to Gaza as part of the international force proposed by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to secure the territory following the devastating Israel-Hamas war. [3] The successful motion, brought by the defence minister, is Uganda’s first public indication of its willingness to join the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza. [3] Morocco also has pledged troops for the mission. [3] Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, seeking the support of lawmakers, cited Uganda’s military capabilities stemming from its peacekeeping deployments in countries such as Somalia. [3] General Henry Matsiko welcomed the decision, telling parliament: "I'm very, very proud as Ugandans that Uganda People's Defence Forces is viewed as the anchor of stability in a sea of turbulence, regionally and now globally." [4] Some opposition lawmakers immediately questioned Uganda’s motive in the decision. "We also need to know the funding of this force. Who is going to fund our stay in Gaza?" asked Enos Asiimwe, a member of parliament during the debate on the motion. [3] "The matter of deploying our soldiers to a very risky place like Gaza, where Israel strikes every now and again, cannot be just casually passed here," said MP Karim Masaba. [4]
Ugandan MPs vote to deploy soldiers to a Gaza peacekeeping force. — Source: africanews
Child Casualties and Humanitarian Response
Since the October 2025 ceasefire, Israeli attacks have killed 1,250 people; separately, at least 300 children have died in Gaza in the past 300 days, averaging one per day, amid ongoing intense violence, shelling, and limited humanitarian access. [3] [5] The UN Children's Fund said Thursday that at least 300 children have been killed in Gaza in the past 300 days since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025, amounting to an average of one child every day. [5] Civilians in Gaza continue to face intense military strikes, shelling, gunfire and naval fire from Israel, among other threats to their safety, UN humanitarians said Thursday. [5] Last week, partners supporting child protection services distributed more than 800 hygiene kits, along with water containers and detergent, to 50 displaced families, including children and caregivers. [5] They also provided 300 child identification cards and 500 notebooks for children, said OCHA. [5] Last month, partners provided more than 500 children with disabilities with cash assistance, assistive devices, walkers, diapers, medical mattresses and rehabilitation services, said the office. [5] As part of efforts to address gender-based violence, partners reported the opening last week of a new safe space in North Gaza governorate. [5] “Across Gaza, some 8,400 women and girls take part in activities at 85 safe spaces every week,” said the office. [5]
International Stabilization Force Plans
The force, proposed by Trump’s Board of Peace in February, would be led by American Major General Jasper Jeffers, who said in May that the 20,000-strong force would ensure “future prosperity and enduring peace." [3] Four other countries have indicated they are willing to join the force —Morocco, Kosovo, Albania and Kazakhstan, a Board of Peace source told AFP in July. [4] The ISF would be responsible for securing a "humanitarian zone" intended to accommodate tens of thousands of Palestinians subject to prior vetting. [4] Palestinians would then be able to move freely in and out of the area, the source said, although the principle of closed humanitarian zones—discussed for several months—has raised concerns within the humanitarian community. [4] The agreement also laid out in general terms what the decommissioning process would look like. [3] Israeli attacks have killed 1,250 people since the ceasefire deal was reached in October, an agreement that ended major fighting in the Israel-Hamas war that had raged for two years. [3]
What to watch next: Israeli ministers continue to press for rejection of the second phase of the Trump roadmap while Uganda and other nations prepare contributions to the 20,000-strong ISF, with further parliamentary scrutiny expected on funding and risks.
