TEHRAN – More than two weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the people of Gaza continue to endure a devastating humanitarian situation.
Israel has repeatedly violated US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan since it took effect on October 10, killing about 100 Palestinians.
The total number of Palestinian deaths since October 7, 2023 now exceeds 68,500, according to local health authorities. Suffering continues unabated on the ground.
Palestinians in Gaza remain locked in a desperate struggle for survival. Food, clean water, fuel and shelter remain in short supply as Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid to the Strip in open defiance of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ordering unrestricted access to relief efforts.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, 600 aid trucks were expected to enter Gaza every day, carrying essential supplies such as food, medicine, fuel and shelter materials. But UN partners say not a single day since the start of the ceasefire has that promise been fulfilled.
Shortages of all kinds continue across the Strip, where more than 2 million Palestinians, most of them displaced, are completely dependent on what little aid is available across the border.
Products occasionally appear in local markets, but the majority of Palestinians cannot afford them.
“People have no money left,” one Gaza resident told Al Jazeera. “During the war, we used up all our savings. Now we can’t even buy bread.”
Ultimately, Gazans say there has been no visible change since the ceasefire. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, and many are questioning whether peace has truly brought relief.
Adding to the crisis, Israel continues to deny entry to UNRWA personnel and aid, paralyzing one of the few remaining lifelines for Gaza residents.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said Israel was still blocking international staff and humanitarian aid convoys from entering the Strip.
Despite these restrictions, approximately 12,000 UNRWA staff on the ground continue to provide medical care, psychosocial support and education “under unimaginable circumstances,” the agency said.
Last year, Israel banned UNRWA from operating in areas under its jurisdiction because some of its staff had ties to Hamas, a claim the ICJ found unfounded. In a recent ruling, the court reaffirmed that Israel, as an occupying power, must support humanitarian efforts and grant full access to UN agencies.
For the people of Gaza, peace remains an empty word. The ceasefire brought no real respite from hunger, thirst, and fear. Unless aid flows freely and Israel ends its blockade and occupation, the humanitarian catastrophe will only deepen.
As the world watches Gaza’s suffering continue, it is a solemn reminder that without justice, even a ceasefire cannot bring peace.