Gaza War Sees Israeli Airstrike on Hamas Cell Leader Despite Ceasefire

The Gaza war has seen the Israeli military conduct an airstrike in northern Gaza on 12 August 2026 targeting the head of a Hamas cell, despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, while separate incidents of settler violence continued in the occupied West Bank.

Overview of the Ceasefire in the Gaza War and Recent Casualties

Between 1 and 30 April 2026, the Ministry of Health reported 312 Palestinians killed and at least 379 injured in Gaza, highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire in place since 10 October 2025. [4] The ceasefire followed 39 days of hostilities that began after an initial attack on 28 February 2026. [1] Health conditions have remained critical across the Gaza Strip since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. [4] These April figures underscore ongoing challenges to the truce that entered into force on 10 October 2025. [4]

Israeli Airstrike in Northern Gaza

The Israeli army confirmed the 12 August strike and stated the Hamas cell leader was planning attacks against Israeli forces. [1] It released video of the bombing but did not name the individual. [1] The strike targeted the head of a cell of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in northern Gaza. [2] The Israeli military said the individual planned to carry out attacks against Israeli forces. [2] This action occurred despite the ceasefire agreed in the enclave in October 2025. [1]

Gaza beekeepers rebuild hives and livelihoods in war-damaged areas. — Source: france24

Accountability Measures for Detainee Abuse

The Israeli military said it has sanctioned soldiers involved in the widely circulated photo of a tortured Gazan detainee who was pictured blindfolded, in underwear, and bound to an iron bar on a stretcher. [1] The army confirmed sanctions against the soldiers implicated in the case of the Gazan detainee. [2] The image showed the Palestinian arrested in underwear, blindfolded, lying face down on a stretcher with hands, arms and one leg tied to an iron bar. [1] The photo spread rapidly online. [2]

Settler Violence and Military Response in the West Bank

In the West Bank village of Qusra, the Israeli army dismantled a settler outpost established four days earlier among Palestinian homes but has not removed the attackers, who remain 15 meters from one resident's house. [1] In Yalud south of Nablus, Israeli settlers burned two Palestinian homes in April, later seized them after issuing death threats, and the Israeli army subsequently declared the area a closed military zone now occupied by soldiers. [2] Settlers set fire to the houses of the sons of Mahmud Tubasi by spraying gasoline on the doors. [1] The settlers later erected a tent 120 meters away and by the end of July had taken over the homes. [2] Soldiers declared the area a closed military zone and now occupy the properties themselves. [1] Tubasi, aged 60, has lived since 22 July in the home of another relative in Yalud. [2] Settlers aged 15 to 25 threw stones at windows each night, destroyed crops by grazing sheep, and cut off electricity and water in mid-July. [1] On 22 July two armed settlers aged around 50 approached the families and said they had one hour to leave safely or die there. [2] In Qusra the army, Border Police and police dismantled the outpost overnight, according to resident Qusay abu Ridi. [1] The settlers remain 15 meters from his house and authorities recently asked him to leave his home. [2]

Infographic displays oPt emergency situation update covering October 2023 to April 2026. — Source: reliefweb

Broader Regional Context

The conflict in the Middle East began on 28 February 2026 with a joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities. [1] Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, driving up crude oil prices and leaving nearly 2,000 ships stranded. [2] After 39 days of hostilities a ceasefire mediated by Pakistan took effect on 8 April. [1] Naval clashes in the strait have not ceased despite the truce. [2]

Naval Incidents and International Responses

Two vessels of the Emirati ADNOC company were attacked on the night of 13 August while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with no casualties reported. [1] The UAE government attributed the hostile action to Iran. [2] The Iranian army stated it maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz and described claims by the United States as lies. [1] The U.S. Secretary of State threatened to maintain the blockade of the strait, which prevents almost all Iranian oil and gas exports. [2] More than two dozen countries including Spain issued a joint condemnation of executions of protesters in Iran and the use of the death penalty. [1] Iranian photographers Yalda Moiaery and Shaghayegh Afshar were sentenced to 15 and nine years in prison respectively. [2]

What to watch next: U.S. threats to maintain the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, further naval incidents attributed to Iran, and the status of the oil spill response off Oman involving the Russian shadow fleet tanker.