Hamas has announced its acceptance of a disarmament plan for Gaza, a proposal that includes the group laying down its arms and Israeli troops withdrawing from the territory. The announcement, however, has been met with limited enthusiasm in Gaza, where residents express deep skepticism about a new political deal after years of failed ceasefires and collapsed agreements.
Despite the announcement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed an Israeli strike on Gaza occurred just hours after the plan was revealed, resulting in injuries to several Palestinians. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over two million Palestinians enduring harsh conditions, struggling with disease and a lack of access to essential resources such as food, clean water, and adequate shelter.
Palestinians are reportedly living in a shrinking area as Israel continues to construct land barriers, further displacing families and expanding its temporary control zone deeper into the territory. Official figures indicate that at least 1,168 Palestinians, including children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since a previous ceasefire took effect, according to the Hamas health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. Over the same period, four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Gaza.
Satellite imagery reviewed in November revealed that Israel had destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in areas of Gaza under its control since the ceasefire, though the actual number is likely higher due to unavailable imagery for some regions. United Nations estimates suggest that approximately 60 million tonnes of debris have been generated since October 2023.
