Palestinians in Gaza say they face Israeli strikes almost every day despite the ceasefire that took effect a year ago, with more than 1,400 people killed since the truce began and the peace deal meant to end the war showing signs of stalling.
The death of Fida al-Toutah, a 31-year-old mother of five, illustrates how fragile the ceasefire has become. She was combing her daughter's hair in her tent in central Gaza last month when gunfire erupted, her family said. She died on 21 September from a gunshot wound to the head.
Her son Ezz recalled the moment, weeping: "My mother shouted at us to get down." He realised she had been hit only when he saw the bloodied hands of his younger brother, who had been clinging to her. "Our mother was so kind and generous. What did she do wrong?" he said.
Fida is among more than 1,400 people killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began on 10 October last year, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. More than 30 people have been killed in the past week alone.
The ceasefire saw thousands of Palestinians held by Israel released in exchange for all 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza, and an agreement to end the war triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
The truce stopped Israel's large-scale bombardment, bringing substantial relief and an increase in humanitarian aid and medical supplies entering the territory. But strikes have continued almost daily. Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and accuses Hamas of continued violations of the ceasefire.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The ceasefire has not brought safety: more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since it began, and strikes continue almost every day
- A stalled peace deal leaves the war formally unresolved, with reconstruction and a durable political settlement out of reach
- A complete collapse of the truce would risk a return to large-scale bombardment and a deepening humanitarian crisis
Background
The ceasefire that began on 10 October last year halted the large-scale war that followed the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Under the truce, thousands of Palestinians held by Israel were released in exchange for all 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza, and an agreement was reached to end the war. Large-scale bombardment stopped and aid flows increased, but the underlying agreement has not been finalised. The conflict is the latest chapter in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian struggle, which has repeatedly defied international efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.
Key Perspectives
Palestinians in Gaza: Families describe a ceasefire that has not ended the killing. Fida al-Toutah's son asked, "What did she do wrong?", capturing the sense among civilians that the truce has not brought the protection they were promised.
Israel: Israeli authorities say their strikes target Hamas operatives and accuse Hamas of continued violations of the ceasefire.
Gaza's health ministry and the UN: The Hamas-run health ministry's casualty figures are considered reliable by the UN, giving weight to the reported toll.
Critics and observers: The BBC reports that the peace deal is stalling. The gap between the ceasefire's promises and daily reality on the ground raises questions about whether the agreement can survive.
What to Watch
- The weekly casualty rate: 30 or more deaths in the past seven days shows the truce is not fully holding
- Whether negotiations resume or the stalled peace deal collapses entirely
- Any significant escalation by either side could trigger a return to full-scale warfare and end the ceasefire altogether