OMM Redaksiyası
A year after a ceasefire took effect in the Gaza Strip, the agreement’s promised transition from war to recovery has yet to materialise for most Palestinians. Israeli attacks have continued, the military withdrawal has stalled and partly reversed, governance arrangements remain incomplete, and large-scale reconstruction has not begun.
Most of Gaza’s roughly 2.1 million residents remain displaced, living in tents, damaged buildings or among rubble. Palestinian authorities say the continuing attacks extend what they describe as Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, which began on Oct. 8, 2023.
The ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, following mediation by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States. Its provisions included a phased Israeli withdrawal, increased humanitarian aid, new governance arrangements and reconstruction.
Captives returned, but attacks continued
On Oct. 13, 2025, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli captives as Israel freed 1,968 Palestinian detainees, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The transfer of remains continued until Jan. 26, 2026, when the Israeli army said it had recovered the last body.
The ceasefire did not end Israeli attacks in Gaza. Over the past year, violations of the agreement have killed more than 1,470 Palestinians and wounded over 5,180, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye said in August that continued Israeli attacks violated the agreement and obstructed implementation of its second phase.
Withdrawal and reconstruction plans remain stalled
Before the ceasefire, the Israeli army controlled about 75% of Gaza. The agreement initially brought a partial withdrawal to the so-called “yellow line,” leaving about 53% of the enclave under Israeli military deployment, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The withdrawal later stalled and partly reversed. By late June, Israeli forces had expanded westward beyond the yellow line, leaving 64.9% of Gaza under direct Israeli control or tighter restrictions, OCHA said. By August, the UN said nearly two-thirds of the enclave was inaccessible to Palestinians or subject to severe restrictions.
A 15-point roadmap linked restrictions on the weapons of Hamas and other Palestinian factions to further Israeli withdrawals, the deployment of an international force, a transfer of governance and reconstruction. Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye said on Aug. 3 that Hamas and other Palestinian factions had accepted the roadmap, including its provision on weapons.
Later that month, eight countries, including Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, said Israel had rejected the roadmap, obstructing implementation of the broader plan.
A technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, headed by Ali Shaath, was formed in January to oversee civilian affairs during the transition. However, governing responsibilities have not been fully transferred, and a planned international stabilisation force has yet to be deployed.
Despite provisions to increase humanitarian aid, OCHA said in September that Kerem Shalom remained the only operational crossing for goods after the Zikim crossing closed in May. Israeli restrictions on materials needed for shelter and construction also continued.
The UN, European Union and World Bank estimate that Gaza will need $71.4 billion over 10 years for recovery and reconstruction, including $26.3 billion in the first 18 months. Their assessment found that 1.9 million Palestinians had been displaced and 371,888 housing units damaged or destroyed.
OCHA said in September that Israeli restrictions continued to block urgently needed shelter supplies, including thousands of tents and construction materials.
While the issue of the captives has been resolved, the promised transition from war to recovery has yet to arrive for Gaza’s displaced population.
Since October 2023, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while about 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been destroyed, according to Palestinian figures.
