Despite October 2025 Truce Agreement, Israeli Forces Continue Systematic Attacks Across the Strip as International Accountability Remains Elusive

GAZA CITY — The hospitals of the Gaza Strip received seven martyrs and seven injured Palestinians over the past 24 hours, including a four-year-old child who succumbed to wounds from a previous shelling, as Israeli occupation forces continued their systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement across multiple areas of the besieged enclave.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed in its daily statistical report issued Tuesday that among the seven martyrs were two newly killed, three who succumbed to their wounds, and two whose bodies were recovered from under the rubble, a grim reminder that even in death, Palestinians in Gaza continue to face delays in receiving dignity due to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

A Pattern Of Systematic Violations

The latest fatalities bring the death toll from ceasefire violations since the agreement was announced on October 11, 2025, to 1,498 martyrs and 5,306 injuries, according to official Ministry of Health data. The number of bodies recovered from rubble since the ceasefire began has reached 838, with many more still trapped beneath the debris of destroyed buildings.

The cumulative toll since the start of what Palestinian officials and international human rights organisations have characterised as Israel’s “war of extermination” on the Gaza Strip has now exceeded 74,389 martyrs and 175,423 wounded since October 7, 2023.

Monday’s Attacks: A Microcosm Of Ongoing Violence In Gaza City

Palestinian Momen al-Ay was killed and several others injured when an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in the vicinity of Jaffa Street in the Tuffah neighbourhood, northeast of Gaza City. The attack exemplifies what local residents describe as the arbitrary nature of the ongoing violence—a single strike that transforms an ordinary street into a scene of death and destruction.

An additional airstrike targeted the entrance to a commercial shop near the municipal park in the city centre, though no injuries were immediately reported.

The Death Of Osama Ahmed Abed

The child Osama Ahmed Abed, 4 years old, died from injuries sustained in an Israeli shelling that targeted the town of Al-Zawaida in the central Gaza Strip approximately three weeks ago. His death raises the toll from that single attack to two children killed.

“Osama was playing outside when the shelling started,” his uncle, Ahmed Abed, told local journalists. “We rushed him to the hospital, but there was no equipment, no medicine. He suffered for three weeks before he finally left us. What crime did a four-year-old commit?”

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has repeatedly warned that children comprise a disproportionate number of casualties in Gaza, with spokesperson James Elder stating in a recent briefing: “Gaza has become a graveyard for children. This is not a byproduct of war, it is a systematic failure of the international community to protect the most vulnerable.”

Khan Younis And Southern Gaza

In the south of the Strip, two Palestinian citizens were shot by occupation forces in the Al-Amal neighbourhood and the vicinity of Hamad City, north of Khan Younis. Another citizen was injured by occupation fire near Al-Isra Tower in the city, coinciding with intensive fire from military vehicles south and east of Hamad City.

Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, a physician at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, described the situation: “We are receiving patients with gunshot wounds almost daily. These are not isolated incidents. This is a pattern of deliberate targeting of civilians in areas where people have been told to seek refuge.”

Central And Northern Gaza

Occupation artillery shelled the eastern areas of Deir al-Balah in the central Strip, while intensive artillery shelling targeted eastern Gaza City and western Beit Lahiya in the north. Israeli forces also conducted military operations in the eastern areas of Jabalia camp.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has documented that such operations often precede the forced displacement of civilian populations, which may constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law.

Additional Casualties Reported Across The Strip

Independent reports from the ground corroborated the Ministry of Health’s figures while providing additional detail on the scale of the ongoing violence.

In western Khan Younis, four Palestinians were martyred and several others injured after an Israeli drone targeted a tent sheltering displaced families, a direct attack on a civilian structure that international law explicitly prohibits.

In northern Gaza, seven-year-old Jihad al-Ghandour succumbed to wounds sustained when occupation forces opened fire near Al-Huja Street in the Jabalia refugee camp. The child’s death adds to the mounting toll of minors killed since the ceasefire was declared.

Israeli occupation forces also carried out demolition operations and explosions in Gaza City’s Shuja’iyya and Zeitoun neighbourhoods, while opening heavy fire and shelling areas east of the Tuffah neighbourhood. Two displaced Palestinians were injured after occupation forces opened fire near tents in the Shuja’iyya area.

In Khan Younis, six additional Palestinians were reported injured after Israeli forces opened fire in the central, western, and southern parts of the city. Occupation forces also fired toward areas east of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, where illumination flares were launched. Artillery shelling targeted Rafah, while displaced persons’ tents in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis and Rafah came under heavy fire.

The Ceasefire That Never Was

The ceasefire agreement announced on October 11, 2025, was met with cautious optimism by the international community, which hoped it would bring an end to the devastating military campaign that had already claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Eleven months later, that optimism has proven tragically misplaced.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, told reporters: “What we are witnessing is not a ceasefire, it is a continuation of the genocide by other means. The world must recognise that Israel is systematically violating every term of the agreement while the international community stands idle.”

The numbers tell a devastating story:

• 1,498 martyrs killed in ceasefire violations since October 11, 2025
• 5,306 injured in the same period
• 838 bodies recovered from rubble
• As of October 7, 2023, there have been 74,389 martyrs reported, but the actual total is believed to be greater.
• 175,423 total wounded since October 7, 2023

These figures, while staggering, are acknowledged even by the Ministry of Health to be incomplete. “A large number of victims remain trapped under the rubble and on the streets, as ambulance and civil defence crews have so far been unable to reach them,” the Ministry stated in its report.

Voices From The Ground

Residents

Fatima al-Najjar, a 42-year-old mother of five from Gaza City, described the daily terror of living under the ever-present threat of attack: “We were told the war was over. We were told it was safe to go back to our homes. But the drones never stop. The shelling never stops. My children ask me every night if we will survive until morning. I have no answer for them.”

Mohammed Saleh, a displaced father sheltering in Deir al-Balah, added: “The ceasefire exists only on paper. On the ground, we are still being killed. The world has abandoned us.”

Medical Workers

Healthcare workers across Gaza describe a system on the verge of total collapse. Hospitals lack basic supplies, generators run on insufficient fuel, and medical staff work around the clock under impossible conditions.

Dr. Rania Hammad of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah told Al Jazeera: “We are treating wounds that should not exist in peacetime. Every day, we receive victims of shelling, of drone strikes, of gunfire. The ceasefire has changed nothing for us except that the world has stopped paying attention.”

Human Rights Organisations

Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, stated: “The pattern of attacks we are documenting, targeting of civilian infrastructure, displacement of populations, killing of children, suggests a deliberate policy that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable is not just a moral failure; it is a legal one.”

Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, has repeatedly called for investigation into what the organisation has termed “systematic violations” of the ceasefire, noting: “Each day that passes without accountability is a day that emboldens further violations.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed “grave concern” over the ongoing violence, reiterating that “parties to the conflict must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

Palestinian Officials

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, condemned the ongoing attacks: “The Israeli occupation’s continued violations of the ceasefire agreement demonstrate its contempt for international law and the lives of Palestinian civilians. The international community must act immediately to stop these crimes before it is too late.”

The Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued repeated appeals for international intervention, stating: “We call upon the international community and all human rights organisations to intervene immediately to stop these violations and to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes against our people.”

Journalists Under Fire

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented that Gaza remains the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, with over 100 media workers killed since October 2023. The ongoing violations have made reporting from the Strip increasingly hazardous.

Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief who lost multiple family members in Israeli strikes, has become a symbol of press freedom in the face of overwhelming adversity. “We will continue to tell the truth,” he stated. “The world needs to know what is happening here.”

The International Response: A Study In Silence

Despite overwhelming evidence of ongoing ceasefire violations, the international response has been characterised by what critics describe as “criminal inaction.”

The United Nations Security Council has held multiple sessions on the situation but has failed to pass binding resolutions due to vetoes or threats of veto by permanent members.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has continued to provide military and diplomatic support despite acknowledged concerns about civilian casualties. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters: “We take all reports of ceasefire violations seriously and are in constant communication with the Israeli government about our concerns.”

Critics note that such statements have become a familiar refrain without corresponding action.

The European Union has similarly expressed “deep concern” while failing to take concrete measures. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, stated: “The continued violence is unacceptable. All parties must respect the ceasefire.”

The Role Of Arab Nations

Arab governments have issued statements condemning the violations, but have been criticised for not taking stronger action. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, called for “urgent international intervention” while acknowledging the limitations of diplomatic statements.

Meanwhile, countries like Egypt and Qatar, which mediated the original ceasefire, continue diplomatic efforts with limited success.

The Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens

Beyond the direct casualties, the ongoing violations exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.

According to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees:

• Over 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced, approximately 85% of Gaza’s population
• Food insecurity affects 100% of the population, with famine conditions in northern Gaza
• Healthcare infrastructure has been decimated, with only a fraction of hospitals partially functioning
• Water and sanitation systems have collapsed, leading to outbreaks of disease
• Over 60% of residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, has warned: “Gaza is being rendered uninhabitable. The humanitarian situation is beyond catastrophic.”

Impunity And The Failure Of International Law

The ongoing violations raise fundamental questions about the efficacy of international legal mechanisms.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures in January 2024 ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide and allow humanitarian aid. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes.

Yet these legal developments have not translated into meaningful change on the ground.

Francis Boyle, professor of international law and author of works on genocide, told international media: “The failure to enforce international law in the case of Gaza represents a fundamental challenge to the entire post-World War II legal order. If states can violate the most basic norms of international humanitarian law without consequence, what meaning do these laws have?”

Media Coverage: The War On Truth

Media coverage of Gaza has itself become a battleground, with allegations of bias, censorship, and suppression of Palestinian voices.

Social media platforms have faced criticism for algorithmic suppression of pro-Palestinian content, while some journalists have reported pressure from employers to avoid using terms like “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing” despite their use by human rights organisations.

Abby Martin, a journalist who has extensively covered Gaza, stated: “The mainstream media has largely failed in its duty to inform the public about what is happening in Gaza. There has been a systematic silencing of Palestinian voices and a normalisation of atrocities that should shock the conscience of the world.”

The BBC and other outlets have been accused of systematic bias in their coverage, with studies showing significant disparities in how Israeli and Palestinian casualties are reported.

Looking Forward: The Path To Justice

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Palestinians and their supporters continue to demand justice.

Mariam Barghouti, a Palestinian-American writer and activist, told reporters: “Justice is not something we can wait for, it is something we must demand. Every person who speaks up, who refuses to be silent, who calls for accountability, is part of the struggle for a better future.”

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement continues to gain momentum internationally, with institutions and governments increasingly taking action to isolate Israel.

Rima Hassan, a Franco-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, stating: “Europe cannot claim to uphold human rights while remaining complicit in the suffering of Palestinians. We demand action, not words.”

Conclusion: A Ceasefire In Name Only

As the death toll continues to rise, the world faces a stark choice: continue to look away while Palestinians are killed with impunity, or take meaningful action to end the violations and hold perpetrators accountable.

The numbers are staggering:

• 7 martyrs in the past 24 hours
• 1,498 martyrs since the ceasefire was declared
• There have been 74,389 martyrs documented since October 2023, with the actual total likely far exceeding this number.

Behind each number is a name, a face, a family, a future extinguished.

Osama Ahmed Abed was four years old. He liked playing outside. He suffered for three weeks before he died.

Momen al-Ay was killed by a drone while going about his daily life.

Jihad al-Ghandour was seven years old when he was shot by occupation forces.

These children will never grow up. Their potential will never be realised. Their dreams will never be fulfilled.

And unless the international community takes decisive action, countless more will join them in the ever-growing list of martyrs.

The ceasefire exists on paper. On the ground, the killing continues.

References

• Gaza Ministry of Health, Daily Statistical Report, October 13, 2026
• UNRWA Situation Report, October 2026
• Human Rights Watch, “Israel and Palestine: Events of 2025”
• Amnesty International, Annual Report 2025-2026
• International Committee of the Red Cross, Statements on Gaza
• Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalist Casualties Database
• International Court of Justice, Provisional Measures Orders
• International Criminal Court, Arrest Warrant Statements
• UNICEF, Child Casualty Reports
• WHO, Health System Reports on Gaza
• Interviews with residents, medical workers, and officials conducted by Al Jazeera, Al-Araby TV, and other outlets

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Source: Veritas Press C.I.C. | Multi-News Agencies