Gaza Strip — Rights group Amnesty International has warned that Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza, citing ongoing attacks and restricted access to humanitarian aid despite a declared ceasefire.

According to Amnesty, Israel has violated the ceasefire over 500 times in seven weeks, killing at least 347 Palestinians and injuring 889 since the agreement took effect on October 10. The conflict has claimed nearly 70,000 Palestinian lives over the past two years.

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Escalating Strikes and Violations

On Thursday, Israeli forces conducted air strikes across southern and central Gaza, including areas beyond the “yellow line” where they were supposed to remain withdrawn under the ceasefire.

• Central Gaza’s Bureij camp and eastern Khan Younis were hit, adding to hundreds of attacks deemed violations of the fragile truce.
• Israeli raids continued in the West Bank, including Qalqilya, Tubas, Hebron, Tulkarem, and Nablus, with at least 25 Palestinians injured in Tubas.

Amnesty’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said, “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. The world must not be fooled: Israel’s genocide is not over.”

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Ceasefire and Prisoner Exchanges

Despite ongoing violations, the first stage of the Gaza truce has progressed:

• Israel transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinian prisoners to Gaza authorities.
• Palestinian armed groups have released all living captives and returned the remains of 26 of 28 captives stipulated under the deal.
• Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of 345 individuals, many showing signs of torture.

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Challenges to Phase Two

Discussions are ongoing for the second phase of the ceasefire, which involves:

• Deploying an armed international stabilization force to demilitarize Gaza.
• Establishing an international body to govern Gaza temporarily and oversee reconstruction.

Mediators from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt met in Cairo to discuss the plan, but concerns remain over Israel’s commitment and the potential for renewed violence.

Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, warned: “Either Gaza remains unlivable and uninhabitable, or Hamas retaliates and Israel uses it as an excuse to resume the genocide.”

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Humanitarian Warning

Amnesty urged the international community to maintain pressure on Israel to:

• Abide by international law
• Allow unfettered access to humanitarian aid
• Lift the blockade
• End ongoing genocidal practices

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Key Facts

• Israel has violated the Gaza ceasefire 500+ times in 7 weeks
• 347 Palestinians killed, 889 injured since October 10
• Nearly 70,000 Palestinians killed since the war began
• Ceasefire phase two plans involve international stabilization and governance