[gaza ceasefire deemed symbolic amid escalating crisis as humanitarian aid struggles]
- On the first anniversary of the truce, Gazans continue to confront Israeli attacks, widespread hunger and a devastated healthcare system, according to organizations.
- Over 1,400 Palestinians—including at least 327 children—have been killed by Israeli forces in the past year, while nearly 2 million people remain in need of shelter as winter approaches.
Updated 13 min 54 sec ago
October 10, 2026 03:38
LONDON: “The ceasefire in Gaza exists “in name only,” more than 100 humanitarian and human rights organizations warned on Friday.”
A year after the agreement took effect, Palestinians continued to face Israeli attacks, widespread hunger and a devastated healthcare system.
The joint announcement
“More than 1,400 Palestinians, including at least 327 children, have been killed by Israeli forces over the past 12 months, nearly 2 million people were still in need of shelter, and none of Gaza’s 36 hospitals was fully functioning.”
<strong>The worsening outlook</strong> as winter approaches, with many displaced Palestinians facing heightened exposure to cold, heavy rain and flooding, the organizations cautioned.
Ongoing Israeli military operations and restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid, medical equipment and reconstruction materials have prevented families from beginning to recover from the war, leaving much of the population living in dangerous and overcrowded conditions.
A stark reality
“The killing and deprivation in Gaza must not be normalized under the cover of a ceasefire agreement,” the joint statement reads.
The scale of destruction
The organizations reported that more than 80 percent of structures across Gaza had been damaged in some way, with about two‑thirds completely destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of families in tents, makeshift shelters or buildings at risk of collapse.
In September, 21 people—including 12 children—were killed when a damaged building collapsed in Gaza City; another 45 were injured despite shortages of heavy rescue equipment.
Norwegian Refugee Council secretary‑general Jan Egeland added that Israeli restrictions on the entry of construction equipment and building materials continue to impede recovery efforts.
"It is utterly shameful that a full year after the ceasefire was signed, so little has improved for Palestinians in Gaza," he said.
Medical emergency
The humanitarian crisis has left more than 18,500 patients, including at least 4,000 children, awaiting evacuation for medical care, and more than 1,000 individuals have died waiting for treatment, according to the groups.
Funding gap
Israel controls roughly two‑thirds of Gaza, and disputes over Hamas disarmament have blocked further withdrawals and the deployment of an international stabilization force. Reconstruction begins only tentatively, with an estimated $71.4 billion required to rebuild the devastated territory.
Projected future hardships
By the end of this year, the groups anticipate that 1.4 million Palestinians will face crisis‑level hunger or worse, compounded by shortages of clean water and the destruction of sanitation infrastructure.
Expanded control concerns
The organizations also accuse Israeli forces of extending their reach beyond the withdrawal boundary outlined under the ceasefire—the Yellow Line—which further limits the land available to displaced civilians.
They call on the international community to pressure Israel to end all attacks, lift restrictions on aid and reconstruction supplies, and ensure accountability for violations of international law.
"Accountability cannot be swept under the rubble,", said Amnesty International secretary‑general Agnes Callamard, who warned that Gaza’s recovery cannot be separated from pursuing justice and protecting victims’ rights.
