Airstrikes, Shootings, Hypothermia: The Harsh Reality of Life in Gaza Under US-Backed Ceasefire
Since the October 10 ceasefire, at least 406 Palestinians have been killed and 1,000 injured, with reconstruction materials blocked from entering Gaza. Civilians have been among the victims, including a five-month-old infant killed in a strike on a school shelter in the green zone and a 29-day-old baby who died of hypothermia in a tent.
Children as young as eight are being killed near the yellow line; notably, 16-year-old Zahir Nasser Shamia was shot near the blocks and subsequently run over by a bulldozer. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the shooting, stating their targets were terrorists but without providing evidence.
Health officials report that over 71,200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 20,000 children. Nearly two million people have been displaced and approximately 85% of buildings have been damaged.
Satellite analysis reveals the yellow line has advanced 390 to 490 metres deeper into Gaza than maps show, swallowing 53 to 54 percent of Gaza’s land and changing on a daily basis.
Israel, through the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, has blocked the entry of reconstruction materials and heavy machinery in line with the first phase of a US-led peace plan.
Rebuilding Gaza presents a massive challenge, with an estimated 60 million tons of debris to be removed—a task that could take around seven years even with sufficient resources and machinery.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida to discuss the second phase of the Gaza peace plan. Meanwhile, the IDF has stated it will not withdraw from Gaza.
