More than 1,000 people — including 265 children — have been killed and 3,400 injured in Gaza during the nine months since the 10 October 2025 ceasefire, according to Gaza health ministry figures the UN used in an early July report.
Bishop William Shomali said the ceasefire exists only "in theory," with Israeli raids continuing while residents are squeezed into 47% of Gaza after Israel took control of the other 53%.
Eighty percent of infrastructure remains destroyed, including water and الكهرباء systems, while many schools and universities no longer exist and thousands of people still live in tents.
Food is entering mainly through Israeli imports sold by merchants in makeshift tent markets, and church aid has shifted from food distribution to cash because many Gazans no longer have jobs.
Reconstruction has not begun because Hamas has not been demilitarized under the U.S. peace plan, though the Latin parish hopes to reopen its school in September for 1,000 children.
With billions in aid blocked, what can break the political deadlock preventing Gaza from being rebuilt?
Is a peace plan that demands total disarmament before reconstruction trapping Gaza in a permanent humanitarian crisis?
Nine months into a ceasefire, why is Israeli military control expanding and the death toll in Gaza still rising?
Gaza After the 2025 Ceasefire: Mass Displacement, Israeli Expansion, and a Worsening Humanitarian Emergency
Overview
Following the ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2025, Gaza experienced ongoing instability and violence, with frequent ceasefire violations and a fragile security situation. Israeli government responses, especially regarding airspace restrictions, became critical to watch as airstrikes and hostilities continued. The humanitarian impact was severe, with most of Gaza’s population displaced into a small coastal area, living in harsh conditions. This period saw a significant shift in territorial control, ongoing civilian suffering, and a deepening crisis, as efforts to stabilize the region and rebuild were hampered by persistent conflict and a lack of effective governance.