Hamas’ disarmament remains unresolved under the stalled Gaza peace plan, blocking further Israeli withdrawals and the deployment of an international stabilization force, according to more than 100 humanitarian and human rights organizations marking the ceasefire’s first anniversary. Israel says security concerns underpin restrictions on aid and reconstruction materials. The organizations say those restrictions are worsening conditions for civilians.
The joint statement said the ceasefire exists “in name only” and accused Israeli forces of killing more than 1,400 Palestinians, including at least 327 children, over the past 12 months. The organizations reported those figures. They said continuing Israeli military operations, along with restrictions on humanitarian aid, medical equipment and reconstruction supplies, had hindered recovery.
Unresolved Security Provisions
US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan remains stalled. The organizations said key provisions—including Hamas’ disarmament, a full Israeli military withdrawal and postwar reconstruction—haven’t been implemented. Israel continues to control about two-thirds of Gaza, while disagreements over Hamas’ disarmament have blocked further withdrawals and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
The organizations said the territory was largely devastated by the war Israel launched in response to Hamas’ assault in October 2023. More than 80 percent of structures across Gaza had been damaged to some degree, they reported, with about two-thirds completely destroyed. Reconstruction, estimated to cost $71.4 billion, has barely begun.
The groups accused Israeli forces of extending control beyond the ceasefire withdrawal boundary known as the Yellow Line, further restricting territory available to displaced Palestinians. They called on the international community to press Israeli authorities to end attacks, lift restrictions on aid and reconstruction supplies, and ensure accountability for alleged violations of international law. Israel’s security concerns also featured in the separate dispute over emergency shelter kits.
Winter Shelter and Medical Needs
Nearly 2 million people need shelter. Humanitarian actors have met only about 17% of winter shelter-supply needs, the organizations said. Around 1.8 million people were living in displacement sites, most in areas at risk of flooding. More than half of Gaza’s tents and makeshift shelters need replacement, while few alternatives are available because war-damaged buildings pose safety risks.
The International Organization for Migration said Israeli authorities hadn’t 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. The IOM said it had brought in some tarpaulins and tents, but not enough to meet needs. COGAT, the Israeli military arm that oversees aid flows into Gaza, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Almost all Gaza residents need tents or other shelter assistance ahead of winter, the UN migration agency said. It warned that El Niño could bring heavier rainfall, worsening flooding amid damaged drainage systems and weakening unsafe buildings. The UN weather agency said El Niño could be the strongest ever. In August, authorities identified more than 3,600 structures as dangerous and at risk of collapse.
Health and Humanitarian Claims
None of Gaza’s 36 hospitals was fully functioning, the organizations said. More than 18,500 patients were awaiting evacuation for medical care, and more than 1,000 people had died waiting for treatment. At least 4,000 of those awaiting evacuation were children. The groups also said 1.4 million Palestinians were expected to face crisis-level hunger or worse by the end of the year, amid shortages of clean water and damaged sanitation infrastructure.
Inger Ashing, the CEO of Save the Children International, 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. Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said restrictions on construction equipment and building materials continued 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.
A damaged building collapsed in Gaza City in September, killing 21 people, including 12 children, and injuring 45. Rescuers saved the injured despite shortages of heavy equipment. Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said, “Accountability cannot be swept under the rubble.”