Seven months after a ceasefire halted major hostilities in Gaza, civilians continue to face daily violence and humanitarian restrictions while political obstacles block reconstruction efforts that could create tens of thousands of jobs, according to international peace officials.
Israel has intensified military operations in Gaza following a truce with Iran, with most strikes occurring in Hamas-controlled areas, Reuters reported. Shelling, drone strikes and gunfire near the armistice line have continued, resulting in casualties among both militants and civilians. Since March, Israel has joined the United States in bombing Iran, with the military operating at what Reuters described as a relentless pace.
Civilians Still Dying Despite Ceasefire
Nickolay Mladenov, director-general of the Board of Peace, delivered a stark assessment after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. "Seven months since the ceasefire, the door to Gaza's future is still closed," Mladenov said, according to The Jerusalem Post. "This is not what was promised to the Palestinians, and it is not what they deserve."
Mladenov emphasized the human cost of the imperfect ceasefire. "There is a ceasefire, and it holds, but it is not perfect. It is far from perfect. There are violations every day, some of which are very serious and significant," he said. "And let's be honest about these violations and what they actually mean: the meaning is that civilians are still being killed. Families are living in fear. Delays and restrictions continue to affect humanitarian access and the daily lives of many Palestinians."
Reconstruction Plans Ready, Awaiting Political Resolution
Despite the security situation, international officials have advanced detailed plans for Gaza's recovery. "Reconstruction planning is already in an advanced stage. We are working sector by sector. We are publishing plans, coordinating with donors, and are ready to start in earnest once conditions allow," Mladenov said. "In fact, our forecasts are that tens of thousands of jobs in the public sector will be created during the first phase."
The Board of Peace is calling on the political leadership currently managing Gaza to step aside, as required by Security Council decisions and a 20-point plan. "For those who respect the law and carry out their work, there is room in the new structure. For those who cannot accept this framework, the plan offers safe passage to third-world countries," Mladenov said.
Framework Allows Political Participation
Mladenov clarified that Hamas could participate in future Palestinian governance under specific conditions. "We are not asking Hamas to disappear as a political movement. As a political movement or as a political party that renounces armed activity, it can participate in Palestinian national elections. This roadmap preserves this possibility," he said.
However, he drew a firm line on armed factions. "What is not negotiable is the existence of armed factions or militias with their own command and control structures, with their own weapon caches or tunnel networks, alongside the transition to Palestinian Authority rule – this is not a political demand. It is a necessary condition of the process."
When asked when the technocratic government would enter Gaza, Mladenov emphasized the voluntary nature of the transition. "This is not an announcement of coercion. I want to be very clear. It is exactly the opposite of coercion. It offers the Palestinians in Gaza, for the first time in a long time, a real choice. The National Committee is ready to enter, govern, and protect wherever coercion is removed, and the conditions are right."
Mladenov also noted that the current situation "does not provide Israel with the security it needs to move forward – as the Israeli public also wants."
Why This Matters:
Seven months into a ceasefire, Gaza's 2.3 million residents remain trapped between ongoing violence and political gridlock that prevents reconstruction and economic recovery. The continuation of civilian casualties and humanitarian restrictions represents a failure to translate military de-escalation into meaningful improvements in daily life for ordinary Palestinians. The readiness of reconstruction plans—capable of generating tens of thousands of public sector jobs—underscores how political obstacles, rather than technical capacity, are prolonging the humanitarian crisis. The framework offered by international mediators attempts to balance security concerns with Palestinian self-determination, but its success depends on whether armed factions will accept civilian governance and whether Israel will allow the meaningful access necessary for reconstruction. Without progress, families will continue living in fear while economic opportunities that could stabilize the territory remain unrealized.