Six months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with mounting civilian casualties, repeated violations and worsening humanitarian conditions, according to health officials and international organizations.
A deadly airstrike on April 22 in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza highlights the ongoing volatility, with local health authorities reporting that five Palestinians, including three children, were killed in an Israeli strike near the Al-Qassam mosque, with the victims transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, reflecting a broader pattern of continued military activity despite the truce.
Monitoring groups and local authorities increasingly describe the ceasefire as ineffective, with at least 786 Palestinians reported killed by Israeli forces since it took effect, including 32 deaths recorded in April alone, while the Gaza Government Media Office alleges more than 2,400 violations involving airstrikes, ground incursions and the continuation of a restrictive blockade.
Risks facing journalists remain high, with Mohammed Wishah killed on April 8 when a drone missile struck his vehicle in southern Gaza City, bringing the reported total of journalists killed since the start of the war to 262.
Recent reports highlight the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, with humanitarian organizations stating that at least two children have been killed or injured daily on average since the ceasefire began, following earlier estimates that more than 20,000 children were killed during the first two years of the conflict.
Reports also indicate that more than 38,000 women and girls were killed between October 2023 and December 2025, averaging around 47 deaths per day during peak hostilities.
Humanitarian access remains severely restricted, with major aid organizations warning that key provisions of the ceasefire agreement, particularly those related to aid delivery, remain largely unmet, describing conditions in Gaza as marked by extreme deprivation and preventable deaths.
The healthcare system, already strained by years of conflict, continues to struggle due to shortages of medical supplies, personnel and damage to infrastructure.
The United Nations has also raised concerns over continued insecurity, stating that civilians in Gaza remain unsafe despite the ceasefire, citing ongoing military operations and the near collapse of essential services.
Estimates of total fatalities since the conflict began vary, with Israeli official figures placing the death toll at around 70,000, while independent experts suggest the real number may be significantly higher, with the cumulative impact on civilians and infrastructure continuing to draw international concern.
As diplomatic efforts continue, conditions on the ground indicate that the ceasefire, while still formally in place, remains highly fragile and increasingly ineffective in protecting civilian lives.
