Over 100 Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Failed to End Palestinian Suffering

Gaza, MINA – More than 100 international humanitarian, human rights, and civil society organizations have warned that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip has failed to end Palestinian suffering. One year after taking effect, the agreement remains largely symbolic, offering civilians little protection as Israeli killings continue, the humanitarian catastrophe deepens, and restrictions on humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials persist.

In a joint statement issued Friday, the organizations said Israeli forces had killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, including at least 327 children, since the ceasefire began. They warned that killing and deprivation in Gaza must not become normalized under the cover of a ceasefire.

The organizations reported that approximately two million Palestinians still need shelter, none of Gaza’s 36 hospitals is fully operational, and around 1.4 million people face crisis-level or worse acute food insecurity.

The organizations said Israeli airstrikes, gunfire, and military operations had killed more than 1,400 Palestinians over the past year, demonstrating that civilians continue to face grave danger despite the declared ceasefire. They added that Palestinian families and rescue teams had recovered hundreds of victims’ bodies from beneath the rubble, often using their bare hands, because Israeli restrictions have prevented the entry of heavy machinery and equipment needed to clear debris and reach missing people. Many victims remain buried beneath destroyed buildings as search-and-rescue teams struggle with severe shortages of equipment.

The organizations said the Israeli military had pushed the so-called “Yellow Line” deeper into Gaza, beyond the withdrawal line established under the agreement. This has confined Palestinians to an increasingly restricted and overcrowded area.

Recent satellite imagery has revealed the devastating scale of destruction across the Gaza Strip, where entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.

More than 80% of structures have been damaged, with approximately two-thirds completely destroyed. As winter approaches, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian families remain in tents, temporary shelters, or damaged homes, facing the growing threat of cold weather, heavy rainfall, and flooding. The organizations noted that female-headed households account for approximately one-quarter of families in Gaza, placing additional burdens on women struggling to provide for their families.

They also warned that Palestinian families have been forced to shelter inside buildings damaged by Israeli bombardment despite the danger of collapse. In September, 21 Palestinians, including 12 children, were killed when a damaged building collapsed in Gaza City.

Inger Ashing, chief executive officer of Save the Children, said the ceasefire loses its meaning as long as children continue to be killed and families remain unable to rebuild their lives. She noted that the rate of children killed since the agreement was announced has approached one child per day. Ashing called on governments that supported the ceasefire agreement to use their influence to stop the killings and ensure Palestinian children have access to food, healthcare, shelter, and education.

The organizations warned that Gaza’s hospitals continue to operate under extremely difficult conditions, with severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, equipment, and fuel threatening the lives of patients and wounded Palestinians. According to the joint statement, more than 18,500 patients still require medical evacuation outside Gaza, including at least 4,000 children. More than 1,000 patients have died while waiting to be evacuated for treatment.

The organizations warned that approximately 1.4 million Palestinians are expected to face crisis-level or worse acute food insecurity through the end of the year, as restrictions on humanitarian aid continue and economic and living conditions deteriorate. They also highlighted the growing health risks associated with unsafe drinking water and destroyed sewage systems, which are contributing to the spread of preventable diseases.

The organizations said the continuing killings, deprivation, and destruction demonstrate that the conditions underlying the findings of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry remain in place. In September 2025 and June 2026, the Commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard stressed that accountability must not be buried beneath the rubble, emphasizing that Gaza’s recovery and future cannot be separated from international law, justice, and the rights of victims. Callamard warned that the continued failure to hold Israel accountable and pressure it to comply with the binding orders issued by the International Court of Justice was contributing to the continuation of widespread crimes against Palestinians.

The organizations concluded that international responsibility does not end with the signing of a ceasefire agreement. Instead, governments must take concrete action to stop the killing of civilians, lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and reconstruction equipment, protect Palestinians, and establish the conditions necessary for recovery and rebuilding.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)