More than 1,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza since a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Hamas came into effect in October, according to figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The ministry said on Wednesday that 1,005 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip since the truce was announced, highlighting the fragile nature of the agreement and the continuing violence in the territory.
Fikr Shalltoot, Gaza director of Medical Aid for Palestinians, described the situation as another painful chapter for residents of the enclave. He said many families who believed the worst period of the conflict had passed are still grieving the loss of relatives.
Although the ceasefire brought an end to major military operations, negotiations over the second stage of the agreement have stalled. The next phase was expected to include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and discussions surrounding the disarmament of Hamas.
Instead, Israeli forces have expanded their control over the territory. Reports indicate that Israel currently controls about 64 percent of Gaza, compared with the 53 percent area initially outlined under the ceasefire arrangement.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that families living in eastern Gaza City were forced to leave their homes last Friday after Israeli troops reportedly placed yellow concrete barriers, signaling the extension of the military buffer zone known as the “Yellow Line.”
Meanwhile, Hamas official Husam Badran recently stated that the group would not surrender its weapons at this stage. He said any decision concerning Hamas’ military capabilities would only be taken after consultations with other Palestinian factions.
The ceasefire deal had also raised hopes for the reconstruction of Gaza and the restoration of its healthcare services. However, OCHA says only 20 out of the territory’s 37 hospitals are still operating partially, while none are functioning at full capacity.
Shalltoot criticized the international community for failing to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to the enclave. He said aid delivery remains severely limited despite worsening hunger and shortages of medical supplies.
The war, which began on October 23, has claimed more than 73,000 lives, according to Palestinian authorities. Large parts of Gaza have been reduced to ruins, while nearly 1.9 million residents remain displaced, making the humanitarian crisis one of the most severe in recent history.
