Escalating Violence in Gaza: Ceasefire Fails to Alleviate Humanitarian Crisis

On October 10, a ceasefire was agreed upon, but the situation in Gaza continues to worsen daily. Famine, exposure, destruction, and ongoing attacks by the Israeli army compound the suffering of the civilian population. Despite the formal commencement of the second phase of the armistice, reports emerge of at least 18 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, including a five-month-old baby and a ten-day-old infant. The Gaza Ministry of Health indicates that many of the fatalities are women and children, underscoring the heavy toll on civilians. The escalating death toll has sparked outrage among Palestinians, who claim that the war is far from over, even four months after the ceasefire was purportedly established. Over 71,800 lives have been lost since the onset of the offensive in October 2023, a figure acknowledged even by Israeli sources. Local authorities report that since the ceasefire came into effect, more than 530 Palestinians have died due to Israeli fire. Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, expressed his anguish on social media, questioning the effectiveness of the ceasefire and the role of international mediators: "Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?" Recent attacks occurred across northern and southern Gaza, outside the Israeli military-controlled areas. The initial strike on Wednesday targeted a building in the Tuffah neighborhood, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, primarily from the same family. Casualties included parents, their ten-day-old daughter, and their five-month-old cousin. Following the incident, the Israeli army defended its actions, claiming that the airstrikes were responses to prior fire from militants, whom they accused of violating the ceasefire agreement. However, the military has refrained from addressing the civilian casualties in both the Tuffah neighborhood and subsequent attacks in Khan Younis, where three more, including a child, lost their lives. Continued aggression has also been reported in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, where three more fatalities were recorded, including two adults and a five-month-old baby. Reports indicate that Israeli artillery bombardments are ongoing, particularly in eastern Deir el-Balah and Bureij camp in central Gaza. Concerns have also arisen regarding the Rafah crossing for patient evacuations. Raed al-Nims, spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent, announced that the process had been canceled for the day, thwarting access to necessary medical care for the injured population. The health situation remains dire, exacerbated by the failure of coordination between Israeli authorities and the World Health Organization, which led to the halt in evacuations. Although the Rafah crossing was opened for the first time in nearly two years, only a small number of individuals have been able to pass through. The ceasefire agreement had stipulated that 200 people would be allowed to cross each day; however, only 52 crossed from Egypt to Gaza and 21 from Gaza to Egypt in the initial days following the reopening. The ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis demonstrate the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the urgent need for international intervention to protect the lives of civilians in the region. The situation remains tense and unpredictable as the conflict continues to take a devastating toll on the already suffering population of Gaza. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2