Gaza's "Ceasefire" Exposed: Bombardment, Starvation & International Law Violations Continue Amidst Diplomatic Sham

Gaza's Illusion of a Ceasefire: A Reality of Ongoing Conflict and Crisis

On October 10, 2025, an announced “ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip offered a momentary flicker of hope to Palestinians, who had endured two years of relentless bombardment – an intensity estimated to be six times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, concentrated on a much smaller area. The devastation was widespread: hospitals, universities, homes, and schools lay in ruins, vital infrastructure crippled, and an estimated 50 million tonnes of rubble concealed over 10,000 unrecovered bodies. Yet, this anticipated relief never materialized.

Persistent Assaults Continue Undeterred

Almost immediately following the “ceasefire” declaration, Israeli forces resumed their assault on Gaza, a campaign that has not ceased since. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Israel has breached the “ceasefire” nearly 500 times in just 44 days, resulting in 342 civilian deaths. The deadliest single day, October 29, saw 109 Palestinians, including 52 children, killed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). More recently, a Thursday attack claimed 32 Palestinian lives, including an entire family in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood, when their shelter was bombed.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amidst Aid Blockades

Beyond the ceaseless bombardment, the shadow of starvation looms large. The “ceasefire” agreement stipulated the daily entry of 600 aid trucks, a provision Israel has consistently failed to uphold. Al Jazeera correspondent Hind al-Khoudary reported from Gaza that the IOF permits only 150 trucks a day, actively blocking crucial nutritious foods like meat, dairy, and vegetables, alongside essential medicines, tents, and other shelter materials. A coalition of Palestinian relief agencies estimates current aid barely meets a quarter of the population's fundamental needs.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), despite possessing sufficient food reserves to feed all of Gaza for months, is denied entry for its supplies. This directly contravenes an October 2025 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which affirmed Israel's duty not to impede UN agency aid. The ICJ also dismissed Israeli claims of UNRWA's lack of neutrality, emphasizing its indispensable humanitarian role. Nevertheless, Israel has rejected this opinion, restricting UNRWA's activities, hindering aid distribution, and denying visas to international staff.

International Law Ignored, Complicity Unfolds

Israel also continues to disregard the provisional measures set forth in a January 2024 ICJ ruling, which found plausible acts of genocide being committed in Gaza. These measures mandated preventing genocidal acts, punishing incitement to genocide, and facilitating humanitarian aid. Despite repeated reaffirmations by the court, these orders are consistently ignored.

This ongoing defiance is bolstered by significant international diplomatic, financial, and military backing. A notable instance occurred on November 17, 2025, when the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2803, endorsing US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. This plan proposes creating two new entities – a “board of peace” chaired by Trump and an “international stabilization force” – to control Gaza, effectively imposing another layer of foreign governance and enforcing disarmament of Palestinian groups. The resolution bypasses existing local and international aid structures, conspicuously omits any mention of genocide, and offers no mechanism for accountability for war crimes. In essence, Resolution 2803 is seen as a violation of international law, granting the US, an alleged co-perpetrator of genocide, control over Gaza.

The "Ceasefire": A Diplomatic Facade

Ultimately, the declared “ceasefire” is a misnomer. The Israeli regime persists in its attacks, starvation tactics, and denial of basic shelter and healthcare to Palestinians. Labeling this situation a “ceasefire” allows third-party states to claim progress in conflict resolution and peace, even as the brutal reality of ongoing extermination, displacement, and erasure of the Palestinian people in Gaza remains unchanged. It serves as a diplomatic sham, diverting international public and media attention from the grim reality on the ground.