More than 100 humanitarian and human rights organizations say Israel’s ceasefire with Gaza exists “in name only.” Israeli forces continue attacks as nearly 2 million Palestinians face shelter needs, and none of the territory’s 36 hospitals is fully functioning. In a joint statement on Oct. 10, the agreement’s first anniversary, the organizations said Israeli forces had killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, including at least 327 children.
“The killing and deprivation in Gaza must not be normalized under the cover of a ceasefire agreement,” the groups said. They warned that cold, heavy rain and flooding could worsen the humanitarian crisis for displaced families as winter arrives.
Israeli control and blocked recovery
Israel continues to control about two-thirds of Gaza, the organizations said. Disagreements over Hamas’ disarmament have blocked further Israeli withdrawals and deployment of an international stabilization force. The groups said continuing Israeli military operations and restrictions on humanitarian aid, medical equipment and reconstruction materials have hindered families trying to recover.
More than 80 percent of structures across Gaza have suffered damage, with about two-thirds completely destroyed, according to the organizations. Hundreds of thousands of families live in tents, makeshift shelters or buildings at risk of collapse. In September, a damaged building collapsed in Gaza City, killing 21 people, including 12 children, and injuring 45. Rescuers recovered the injured despite shortages of heavy equipment.
Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said Israeli restrictions on construction equipment and building materials continue to obstruct recovery. “It is utterly shameful that a full year after the ceasefire was signed, so little has improved for Palestinians in Gaza,” he said.
The organizations said reconstruction had barely begun and estimated that rebuilding Gaza would require $71.4 billion. They said 1.4 million Palestinians were expected to face crisis-level hunger or worse by the end of the year, with clean water scarce and sanitation infrastructure destroyed.
Shelter shortages as winter approaches
Almost all of Gaza’s population needs tents or other shelter assistance, the UN migration agency said Friday. Humanitarian actors had met only about 17 percent of winter shelter-supply needs, IOM Director General Amy Pope said. Around 1.8 million people live in displacement sites, most in areas at risk of flooding.
The International Organization for Migration said El Niño is expected to bring heavier rainfall that could weaken unsafe buildings and cause flooding, while Gaza’s drainage systems remain heavily damaged. The UN weather agency said El Niño could be the strongest ever. More than half of the tents and makeshift shelters need replacement because they’re in poor condition, the IOM said. War-damaged buildings pose safety risks and offer few alternatives. In August, officials identified more than 3,600 structures as dangerous and at risk of collapse.
The IOM said Israeli authorities had not allowed 8,600 emergency shelter kits into Gaza, determining them to be dual use. Each kit contains wood, a tarpaulin and basic materials. Israel cites security concerns for its restrictions. COGAT, the Israeli military arm that oversees aid flows into Gaza, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The IOM said it had brought in some tarpaulins and tents, but not enough to meet Gaza’s needs.
More than 18,500 patients, including at least 4,000 children, were awaiting evacuation for medical care, and more than 1,000 people had died waiting for treatment, the organizations said. Save the Children International CEO Inger Ashing said a child had been killed almost every day since the ceasefire was announced. “A ceasefire is meaningless if children are still being killed and families are still unable to rebuild their lives,” she said.
The organizations said US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan remained stalled. Key provisions—including Hamas’ disarmament, a full Israeli military withdrawal and postwar reconstruction—haven’t been implemented. They urged the international community to press Israeli authorities to end attacks, lift restrictions on aid and reconstruction supplies, and ensure accountability for violations of international law. “Accountability cannot be swept under the rubble,” said Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International.