Has the Gaza ceasefire been broken? Salam and thoughts
As-salamu alaykum. A fragile ceasefire meant to pause Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza is hanging by a thread - Rafah crossing closed, aid limited, and fighting reported.
Since the truce, which began on October 10 after US-brokered talks with Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye, Israel says nearly 100 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and about 230 wounded. Tensions have been high with mutual accusations: Israel says its forces were attacked in the Rafah area and that Hamas fighters killed two Israeli soldiers there, while Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, has denied any clashes in Rafah and pointed out that Israel controls that area.
Background: international bodies and a UN commission have described Israel’s campaign in Gaza as having caused catastrophic civilian losses. Since October 2023 more than 68,000 people in Gaza have been reported killed and roughly 170,200 wounded, while about 1,139 people in Israel died during the attacks on October 7, 2023, and many were taken captive.
So, who broke the ceasefire? Is the truce still holding? Are Palestinians getting meaningful aid and peace?
What we know:
- Israel accused Hamas of violating the agreement after the Rafah incident and carried out wide strikes across Gaza.
- Hamas’s armed wing said it had no contact with fighters in Rafah and denied the reported clashes.
- Israel has also said Hamas has delayed returning the bodies of 28 captives killed during the fighting; Hamas says heavy excavation equipment is needed to recover those bodies and many more believed buried under rubble from Israeli bombing.
The ceasefire is a 20-point US proposal that included the release of captives and a transition to an “independent Palestinian administration” governing Gaza. Hamas agreed to release all captives and accepted that Gaza’s governance would move to an independent Palestinian administration, while asking that other demands be handled within an inclusive Palestinian national framework.
Gaza authorities say Israel has violated the deal multiple times, causing many deaths. Incidents cited include strikes on civilian vehicles that killed whole families and air raids that killed dozens in various neighbourhoods.
Israel has also restricted aid: Rafah crossing has been closed at times and Israel told UN officials it would allow fewer aid trucks than the deal envisaged. The Israeli government says it may keep forces in a buffer zone until a perceived threat is eliminated, a wording critics say could allow a long-term presence.
Hamas has released all 20 living captives and returned 12 of the 28 bodies recovered so far. They continue to say recovery work is extremely difficult without heavy equipment and outside help; Gaza’s civil defence says more than 10,000 people may still be trapped under rubble.
The situation on the ground
- Entire neighbourhoods are flattened, making identification and recovery nearly impossible for many families.
- An “invisible” line formerly patrolled by Israeli forces leaves uncertainty and fear for people unsure whether their home now lies on the Israeli-controlled side of that line.
- Around 58 percent of Gaza is estimated to be under Israeli control along that line, and shortages of food and essential supplies remain severe.
International reactions vary: US officials have said the ceasefire is still in effect and pledged to help keep things calm, while Israeli statements have alternated between saying they will abide by the deal and carrying out strikes when they say violations occur.
For now, the truce is fragile. Aid access remains constrained, many families are displaced or unable to reach destroyed homes, and recovery of captives and bodies is painfully slow. Both sides publicly say they remain committed to the ceasefire terms, but the reality on the ground shows how precarious the pause is and how much work - and humanitarian assistance - is needed to bring lasting relief and stability.
May Allah grant protection and relief to all the innocent victims and guide those who can help to act swiftly. Salam.
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