The hope for a peaceful Ramadan has been shattered for many in Gaza as the Israeli military continues its offensive into the second day of the Muslim holy month.

Despite an active ceasefire agreement established on October 10, intense aerial bombardments and artillery fire were reported across the enclave on Thursday and Friday.

Local witnesses described a harrowing scene in Gaza City, where fighter jets targeted eastern neighborhoods in the north.

The strikes were accompanied by heavy artillery shelling and the deployment of illumination flares over the Shujaiya district, lighting up the night sky as residents attempted to observe their second pre-dawn meal of the fast.

The military activity was not confined to the north. In the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, at least tfour additional airstrikes were reported in eastern zones currently under Israeli military control.

Further west, artillery shells landed in the al-Mawasi area, a region that has frequently served as a shelter for displaced families.

While the immediate number of casualties from Thursday’s  and Friday’s specific strikes remains unconfirmed, the humanitarian cost since the ceasefire began is mounting.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the continued hostilities despite the truce have already killed 611 Palestinian and injured 1,630 others.

For the people of Gaza, this year’s Ramadan is a somber period of mourning and survival. The region is entering its third year of intense conflict, following a massive offensive that began in October 2023.

The cumulative impact of the war has been catastrophic. The number of casualties has climbed over 72,000 deaths and injuries over 171,000, with women and children making up the vast majority of victims. Approximately 90% of civilian buildings and essential services have been damaged or destroyed.