Despite a ceasefire agreement bringing a fragile calm to Gaza, significant violations by Israel are threatening the peace, with reports of civilian casualties, obstructed aid, and the withholding of Palestinian bodies overshadowing the truce.
Hamas officials have formally accused Israel of engaging in lethal activities that breach the ceasefire terms. A senior Hamas official stated that Israel has killed at least 24 people in shootings since the truce began. While the Israeli military has not directly responded to these specific allegations, it has previously justified opening fire on Palestinians who "ignored warnings not to approach Israeli ceasefire positions," framing it as a measure "to remove the threat".
A major point of contention is the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid. Although the United Nations and aid agencies are prepared for a massive aid surge, they report that Israel is blocking the necessary access. Critical border crossings, particularly Rafah, have remained closed or operate well below capacity, effectively throttling the supply of desperately needed food, fuel, and medical supplies. The head of the Hamas-run Gaza media office described the limited aid that has entered as a "drop in the ocean" compared to the vast needs of the population. A UN relief coordinator emphasized that facilitating aid is a legal obligation and should not be used as a "bargaining chip".
The ceasefire deal includes the return of the deceased, but this process has been fraught. Israel holds the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians, and while some have been returned, the process is slow. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that some of the returned bodies show visible signs of abuse, including beating, handcuffs, and blindfolds. Doctors at Nasser hospital have provided grim accounts, with one stating that almost all of the bodies they received "had been blindfolded, and had been bound up, and they had gunshots between the eyes. Almost all of them had been executed".
The ongoing restrictions on aid are exacerbating a severe health crisis. With only 13 of Gaza's 36 hospitals even partially functioning, the World Health Organization has warned that infectious diseases are "spiralling out of control". The lack of clean water, food, and medical care has created a perfect storm where diseases like meningitis and diarrhoea can spread rapidly among a malnourished and displaced population.
These violations occur against a backdrop of significant international legal action. Both the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have ongoing cases related to the war in Gaza. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for top Israeli officials for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, while the ICJ is examining a case of genocide brought by South Africa. Legal experts emphasize that a ceasefire does not erase accountability for past actions, and these legal proceedings are expected to continue independently of the truce. A UN Commission of Inquiry has already concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a finding that will likely be used in these international courts.