Gaza Peace Deal Stalled Amid Ongoing Strikes and Humanitarian Crisis
Palestinians in Gaza face continued Israeli strikes and a deepening humanitarian crisis as a peace deal aimed at ending the conflict remains stalled.
Despite a ceasefire that began on October 10 of last year, which saw the release of hostages and Palestinian detainees, Israeli forces have continued to conduct strikes in Gaza almost daily, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. These ongoing military actions have resulted in numerous casualties, including women and children, even as efforts to reach a comprehensive peace deal falter.
Fida al-Toutah, a 31-year-old mother of five, was killed on September 21 by a gunshot wound to the head. Her family stated that the bullets came from Israeli forces, an account the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they have no record of. Her death is one of more than 1,400 reported fatalities in Gaza since the ceasefire began, attributed to Israeli attacks by the health ministry. The total death toll since the start of the war, according to the ministry, exceeds 74,000.
Many Palestinians have been displaced multiple times, forced to live in makeshift tents and unsafe structures. The UN reports that most of Gaza's 2.1 million population is displaced, often in crowded and unsanitary conditions. Amal Alabadla, a mother of two, described the daily struggle for survival, focusing on keeping her children warm, clean, and fed amidst the harsh conditions. "Before the war, I had a job, a house, an ordinary life, but then everything turned upside down. Now we have no hope, nothing. It's only about survival day by day," she said.
On the same day Fida al-Toutah was killed, 14-year-old Ismail al-Bardawil was shot dead in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah while fishing near the shore. His family reported that Israeli forces fired upon him. Gaza's health ministry indicated that over 300 children have been killed since the ceasefire began. The IDF stated it had no information regarding this incident. Since the ceasefire, at least seven Israeli soldiers have also been killed in Gaza.
The peace deal, initiated in October 2025, was intended to pave the way for reconstruction in Gaza. However, rebuilding has not commenced due to an impasse over the second phase of the agreement. Israel maintains strict control over materials entering Gaza, citing security concerns. A plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump to disarm Hamas was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who insisted on Hamas being "genuinely" disarmed before any military withdrawal. Hamas, conversely, has stated that handing over its heavy weapons is contingent on Israel ending its military actions and withdrawing forces from Gaza.
A proposed recovery plan for Gaza, valued at $2.45 billion, has also been put forward. However, one year after the ceasefire and three years after the war's commencement, many residents express deep skepticism about tangible changes on the ground. The ongoing conflict and the stalled peace process leave many, like Amal Alabadla, questioning the prospects for a safe future for their children.