Israeli airstrikes have resumed across Gaza, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure just twelve months after the 2023 ceasefire that raised hopes for an end to the conflict.

The United Nations reports that more than half of Gaza’s residential neighbourhoods now lie in ruins, with essential services such as water, electricity and health care barely functional.

The humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly desperate.

Health officials say hospitals are operating at less than ten per cent of capacity, relying on makeshift wards in school buildings and underground shelters. Ambulances struggle to navigate streets littered with debris, while fuel shortages force generators to shut down, leaving patients without life‑support equipment.

Gaza residential building reduced to rubble

Humanitarian agencies warn that the lack of safe corridors is hampering the delivery of food, medicine and shelter. In the past week, UN‑run aid convoys have been forced to turn back after Israeli forces shelled the route near Rafah, prompting the agency to call the situation “untenable”.

Israeli officials maintain that the strikes target Hamas militants who, according to the Israeli Defence Forces, continue to store weapons in densely populated areas. The military said it had intensified operations after a series of rocket launches from Gaza on Monday, which it described as a breach of the ceasefire terms.

Ceasefire’s fragile foundation

The 2023 truce, brokered by the United States and Egypt, was intended to halt the full‑scale war that began in October 2023 following Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel. The agreement called for a cessation of hostilities, the opening of crossing points for aid, and the release of hostages.

While the initial months saw a relative lull, sporadic clashes persisted. By early 2024, Israel had resumed limited ground operations, citing the need to dismantle tunnel networks. Hamas, in turn, claimed to have retained the capability to fire rockets, keeping the ceasefire on shaky ground.

Human cost and displacement

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the conflict has claimed over 30,000 Palestinian lives since 2023, the majority civilians. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that more than 1.5 million people remain internally displaced, living in overcrowded shelters where disease outbreaks loom.

Children bear a disproportionate share of the suffering. UNICEF reports that over 400,000 children under the age of five are at risk of severe malnutrition, with therapeutic feeding programmes stretched beyond capacity.

International response and diplomatic deadlock

Calls for a renewed ceasefire have been voiced by the European Union, the Arab League and several UN members, but concrete steps have stalled. The United States, under President Harris, has reiterated support for Israel’s right to self‑defence while urging restraint, a stance that has drawn criticism from human‑rights groups.

Recent attempts by Qatar and Egypt to mediate a new pause in fighting have faltered, as Israeli officials demand a comprehensive disarmament of Hamas before any further concessions.

Analysts warn that the protracted stalemate risks deepening regional instability, potentially drawing in Hezbollah in Lebanon and complicating Iran’s influence in the broader Middle East.

For Gaza’s residents, the future hinges on whether a durable ceasefire can be secured before winter exacerbates the already dire humanitarian landscape.