Three hundred and 65 days have passed since a ceasefire signed in Gaza. Yet the past year has seen nearly 1,400 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes and more than 74,000 casualties reported by Palestinian authorities since the October 7 attacks.
The Israeli army has continued to advance, squeezing Gaza’s population into smaller areas and restricting humanitarian and medical aid. Dr Musallam Abukhalil, a 32‑year‑old doctor from Nuseirat, says residents live in fear, in torn tents without proper sewage, and that many cannot access food or water.
Trump’s October 2025 ceasefire, backed by a board of peace that includes former UK prime minister Tony Blair, saw Hamas release hostages and Israel partially withdraw. However, Israel has carried out over 5,100 ceasefire violations, denied aid, and encroached beyond the agreed ‘yellow line,’ while the IDF insists it is protecting civilians and acting within the agreement.
International pressure has increased, with a UN commission accusing Israel of genocide and war crimes, and European allies imposing trade sanctions on settlements. The upcoming Israeli elections could change the government, while Yossi Mekelberg warns that continued violations and slow humanitarian progress worsen the situation.
A joint call from several Arab and European states highlighted aid restrictions as the biggest barrier to health services. UN figures show 94% of Gaza’s population needs shelter, 1.4 million face food insecurity, and nine in ten households lack adequate water. Doctors report 56 attacks on health facilities this year and a sharp rise in neonatal care needs. The board’s six‑month, $2.45bn plan is a start, but full reconstruction is estimated at $71.4bn over ten years, leaving many Palestinians to view the ceasefire as a symbol of death, poverty and insecurity.
