Accra:Gaza Strip One year after the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the promised improvements for Palestinians remain largely unfulfilled. While all Israeli captives have been returned, many key aspects of the agreement have not been realized.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli attacks have persisted, and the military withdrawal has been stalled and partly reversed. The governance changes outlined in the ceasefire agreement have not been fully implemented, and large-scale reconstruction efforts have not begun. Many of Gaza's approximately 2.1 million residents remain displaced, living in tents, damaged buildings, or among rubble. Palestinian authorities describe the ongoing attacks as an extension of Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza, initiated on October 8, 2023.
The ceasefire, which started on October 10, 2025, was facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States. It included provisions for a phased Israeli withdrawal, increased aid, new governance arrangements, and reconstruction. On October 13, 2025, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives, while Israel freed 1,968 Palestinian detainees, as reported by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The transfer of remains concluded on January 26, 2026, with the recovery of the last body by the Israeli army.
Despite these developments, Israeli attacks have continued. Over the past year, more than 1,470 Palestinians have been killed and over 5,180 wounded due to Israeli violations of the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. In August, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye stated that ongoing Israeli attacks breached the agreement and hindered the implementation of its second phase.
Initially, the ceasefire led to a partial Israeli withdrawal to the 'yellow line,' reducing their control from 75% to 53% of Gaza. However, this withdrawal later stalled and reversed, with Israeli forces expanding westward beyond the yellow line by late June, According to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). By August, nearly two-thirds of Gaza was either inaccessible to Palestinians or under stringent restrictions.
The second phase of the ceasefire agreement remains unimplemented. A 15-point roadmap linked the restriction of Hamas and other factions' weapons to additional Israeli withdrawals, the deployment of an international force, governance transfer, and reconstruction efforts. On August 3, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye reported that Hamas and other factions had accepted the roadmap, including its weapons provision. However, later that month, a coalition of eight countries, including Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, indicated that Israel had rejected the roadmap, obstructing further progress.
A technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza was established in January to manage civilian affairs during the transition. Yet, the transfer of governing responsibilities is still incomplete, and the planned international stabilization force has not been deployed.
Reconstruction efforts face significant challenges. Although there were plans to increase humanitarian aid, OCHA reported in September that Kerem Shalom remains the sole operational crossing for goods after the closure of the Zikim crossing in May. Israeli restrictions persist on materials necessary for shelter and construction. The UN, European Union, and World Bank estimate that Gaza will require $71.4 billion over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction, including $26.3 billion in the first 18 months. Their assessment revealed that 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced, with 371,888 housing units damaged or destroyed. OCHA noted that Israeli restrictions continue to impede access to essential shelter supplies, such as tents and construction materials.
Despite the resolution of the captives' issue, the anticipated transition from conflict to recovery for Gaza's displaced population remains elusive. Since October 2023, over 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 175,000 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza, with around 90% of the enclave's infrastructure destroyed, according to Palestinian figures.