Analysts: Israel's Gaza Genocide Continues Despite Ceasefire, Over 500 Violations & 70,000 Total Deaths Reported

Israel's "Genocide" in Gaza Continues Unabated, Analysts Assert, Despite Ceasefire

Despite an agreed ceasefire in Gaza, experts and human rights organizations contend that Israel's actions continue to constitute a genocidal war. Two months after the October 10, 2025, agreement, analysts report over 500 violations by Israel, leading to at least 356 additional Palestinian deaths and pushing the total casualty count in Gaza above 70,000.

The Illusion of Peace: A Ceasefire Broken

What was intended as a reprieve for the besieged Palestinian population has instead become a "political theatre," according to critics. Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized to Al Jazeera that genocide extends beyond mass killings. He defines it as the systematic destruction of a population's capacity to exist as a group, achieved through widespread infrastructure demolition, killings, ethnic cleansing, and engineered starvation.

The US-backed ceasefire, publicly championed by figures like then-President Donald Trump from Sharm el-Sheikh as a moment of "peace in the Middle East," failed to halt Israeli aggression. Instead, Israel continued its attacks, drastically restricted vital aid deliveries – despite famine conditions being declared – destroyed over 1,500 buildings, and expanded its presence deeper into Gaza, further displacing residents. Shehada called this a "theatre" designed to make the genocide "disappear" from public focus rather than resolve it.

Reduced Scrutiny, No Accountability

Lebanese Palestinian researcher Elia Ayoub highlighted the significant drop in media coverage post-ceasefire as an intended outcome, reducing international pressure on Israel. "There is far less pressure on Israel today than there was until October 10, with no sign of accountability on the horizon," Ayoub noted.

Amnesty International echoed these concerns, releasing a legal analysis confirming an "ongoing genocide in the Occupied Gaza Strip." Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, explicitly stated, "The world must not be fooled. Israel's genocide is not over." The analysis detailed the continued killings, severe restrictions on humanitarian and medical supplies, and the Israeli blockade's role in exacerbating famine and disease vulnerability. Callamard concluded that there is "no indication that Israel is taking serious measures to reverse the deadly impact of its crimes and no evidence that its intent has changed."

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, had previously reported 100 daily deaths in Gaza before the ceasefire. While the daily rate of direct military operation deaths has reportedly slowed since, the fundamental destruction of Palestinian society persists. Defence analyst Hamze Attar affirmed that Israel is "continuing its genocide in Gaza," albeit at a different pace, with ongoing destruction of homes, killings, and the expansion of Israeli occupation lines contributing to the genocidal intent.

The Unfulfilled Promise of Captive Exchange

A key tenet of the ceasefire was the return of captives held by Hamas and other Palestinian groups. While Hamas returned all living captives and all but two bodies, Israel's fervent supporters had claimed this exchange would end the war. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem underscored the group's commitment to the exchange despite difficulties.

In return, Israel released 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and 345 bodies, many reportedly showing signs of torture and mutilation. However, this exchange did not translate into eased pressure on Gaza. Shehada argued that ceasefires, by their nature, allow Israel "a free hand to do what it wants" by shifting international attention from details on the ground. He also suggested US involvement under Trump prioritized the "spectacle of peace" over actual dynamics, enabling systematic ceasefire violations.

Ultimately, analysts like Ayoub contend that the persistent actions confirm that Israel's goal is not merely to defeat Hamas but to render life unsustainable in Gaza long-term, reiterating that "It's simply genocide."