Key facts
- More than 1,400 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began on October 10 last year, according to Gaza's health ministry.
- Fida al-Toutah died on September 21 from a gunshot wound to the head.
- Ismail al-Bardawil, 14, was shot dead on the same day as Fida.
- The IDF stated it has no record of the incidents involving Fida al-Toutah and Ismail al-Bardawil.
- More than 300 children have been killed since the start of the ceasefire, according to Gaza's health ministry.
- Reconstruction in Gaza has not begun a year after the ceasefire.
Civilians in Gaza continue to face Israeli strikes and killings on an almost daily basis, despite a ceasefire that began on October 10 last year. The conflict, triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in a significant death toll, with the Gaza health ministry reporting over 1,400 people killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire commenced.
Fida al-Toutah, a 31-year-old mother of five, was killed on September 21 by a gunshot wound to the head. Her family claims she was hit by bullets fired by Israeli forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they have no record of this incident. Similarly, 14-year-old Ismail al-Bardawil was shot dead on the same day while fishing, with his family also attributing his death to Israeli forces. The IDF also reported no information on this incident.
The ceasefire brought substantial relief, halting Israel's large-scale bombardment and increasing humanitarian aid. However, sporadic strikes have continued, with Gaza's health ministry reporting over 30 deaths in the week preceding the report. The IDF maintains it is targeting Hamas operatives and accuses the group of ceasefire violations. Areas near the "Yellow Line," separating Israeli-occupied zones from Hamas-controlled areas, are considered particularly dangerous due to frequent gunfire.
The overall death toll in Gaza since the war began in 2023 has surpassed 74,000, according to the Gaza health ministry. Many of Gaza's 2.1 million residents have been displaced multiple times, living in precarious conditions in tented cities. Reconstruction efforts have not yet begun, stalled by an impasse over the second phase of a peace deal and Israel's strict control over materials entering Gaza for security reasons.
US President Donald Trump proposed a plan to disarm Hamas, but it was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists on Hamas being "genuinely" disarmed before any military withdrawal. Hamas, in turn, has conditioned the handover of its weapons on Israel ending its "aggression" and withdrawing forces. A separate recovery plan for Gaza worth $2.45 billion has also been proposed. However, many Gazans, like Amal Alabadla, who now lives in a tent after losing her home and family members, express deep skepticism about the possibility of rebuilding a safe future.