News|GazaIsraeli army kills 2 Palestinians in strikes on Gaza during RamadanLatest Israeli attacks bring total death toll in Gaza since October ‘ceasefire’ to 614.
## Policy and Security Developments in Gaza
Policy and Security Developments in Gaza
On Sat, Feb 18, 2026, Israeli air strikes resulted in the death of at least two individuals in Gaza. This incident marks a breach in the truce agreement with Hamas, established over four months prior.
The strikes took place in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza and the Qizan an-Najjar area in the south. This escalation has increased the total casualties since the implementation of the ceasefire to 614 fatalities and 1,640 injuries, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
In response, the Israeli military released a statement acknowledging one of the incidents, claiming that a fighter posed an immediate threat by crossing into Israel's territory. The military has affirmed its commitment to addressing any immediate threats.
International Involvement and Reconstruction Efforts
Recently, significant attention has been directed towards reconstruction and security in Gaza. On Thu, Feb 16, 2026, the inaugural meeting of the U.S. President's Board of Peace was convened to discuss these issues. During this event, a collective commitment of $7 billion from nine countries was announced for Gaza's reconstruction, in addition to a $10 billion contribution from the United States. Despite these pledges, the funding remains insufficient compared to the estimated $70 billion required for complete reconstruction.
On Sat, Feb 18, 2026, Israeli air strikes resulted in the death of at least two individuals in Gaza.
Additionally, five nations have agreed to contribute troops to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) designed to assume security responsibilities from Hamas. However, the disarmament of Hamas remains unresolved, posing potential challenges to the execution of the plan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stipulated that Hamas must disarm before reconstruction efforts can commence. An ultimatum of a 60-day deadline for disarmament has been issued, which Hamas has rejected, citing ongoing occupation and aggression by Israel. Hamas has expressed conditional openness to a peacekeeping force that would ensure ceasefire compliance without interfering in Gaza's internal matters.
The next phase of the proposed plan involves the staged withdrawal of Israeli military forces and the deployment of the ISF, alongside the establishment of a transitional Palestinian technocratic committee to manage governance. However, skepticism remains prevalent among the Palestinian populace regarding the plan's feasibility, given ongoing military actions and insufficient aid.
Concerns have been expressed about the current plan's clarity and effectiveness, with some Palestinians highlighting ongoing violations and expressing doubts about the project's success.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
