Since the ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank began on January 19, Israeli forces have killed over 100 Palestinians, blatantly violating the agreement and prompting Hamas to suspend its release of Israeli prisoners of war. The ceasefire, meant to facilitate a phased exchange of detainees and hostages over 42 days, is now at risk of total collapse.
According to a report by Anadolu Agency, at least 118 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began. Many of the deaths occurred due to direct Israeli military strikes, injuries from previous attacks, and unexploded ordnance.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have also intensified operations in the occupied West Bank. A report from The Times states that nearly 70 Palestinians were killed in January alone, a 14% increase in violent incidents compared to the previous month.
Hamas has since announced an indefinite pause in the release of Israeli prisoners, insisting that Israel must first adhere to the ceasefire terms it agreed to.
Ceasefire Further Undermined by Trump’s Radical Statements
Tensions escalated further following a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. After their discussions, Trump made several inflammatory statements that threw the ceasefire agreement into complete disarray.
According to AP News, Trump proposed that the United States “take over” Gaza, permanently expelling its Palestinian population and preventing their right of return. He stated:
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.”
He further suggested that Gaza should be transformed into a resort-like development project, effectively eliminating Palestinian sovereignty over the region.
Additionally, Trump unilaterally demanded that all Israeli prisoners held in Gaza be released by this weekend, a condition that was not part of the original ceasefire agreement. The Guardian quoted Trump as saying:
“If all the Israeli hostages held in Gaza are not returned by Saturday at noon, I will propose canceling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and let all hell break loose.”
Palestinian officials have expressed serious concerns over these statements, which they see as an attempt to shift the terms of the ceasefire in favor of Israel.
The ceasefire agreement, which both sides signed, did not require Hamas to release all Israeli captives at once but rather through a phased process in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
With Trump’s sudden and drastic changes to the deal, Palestinian leadership has become increasingly hesitant to continue negotiations under an agreement that appears to be unilaterally altered in Israel’s favor.
Three Key Israeli Ceasefire Violations
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, has identified three major breaches of the ceasefire by Israel:
Ongoing Palestinian deaths – Over 100 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, with dozens more wounded in airstrikes and military raids. The Israeli military has continued its operations in Gaza and the West Bank despite the agreement to halt attacks.
Obstruction of humanitarian aid – Israel has blocked crucial aid deliveries, including food, fuel, and medical assistance. Anadolu Agency reports that only a fraction of the promised aid has entered Gaza, leaving thousands of displaced Palestinians without shelter.
Incendiary statements from Israeli and U.S. leaders – Both Netanyahu and Trump have indicated their intent to resume military action and permanently remove Palestinians from Gaza. Their rhetoric has undermined the fragile ceasefire and signaled an escalation in violence.
Gaza Faces Ongoing Aid Shortages Amid Ceasefire Challenges
Gaza continues to struggle with severe shortages of essential supplies as aid deliveries remain insufficient to meet the region’s needs. The Gaza Government Media Office has warned that the amount of aid entering the Strip is far below the minimum required, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
While the United Nations has acknowledged an increase in aid since the ceasefire, including the arrival of shelter materials such as tents, it stresses that the assistance provided is still inadequate given the extensive damage to Gaza’s infrastructure. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the truce by obstructing aid, particularly mobile homes and critical equipment. In response, Hamas has threatened to halt the release of Israeli hostages, an allegation Israeli authorities deny.
Adding to the crisis, Israel’s recent legislative measures restricting the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have sparked concerns about further hindering aid efforts. Critics warn that limiting UNRWA’s services could disrupt healthcare and education for thousands.
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, 2025, over 12,600 aid trucks have entered Gaza. However, this remains below the commitments made under the agreement. Israel had pledged to allow 600 aid trucks into Gaza daily, but the actual average has been approximately 450 per day.
Furthermore, while some aid items like tents have been permitted, restrictions remain on so-called “dual-use” materials. These include supplies essential for rebuilding infrastructure and maintaining water and sanitation systems, further complicating efforts to address Gaza’s humanitarian needs.
Cold-Blooded Killing of Pregnant Palestinian Woman Shocks West Bank
Among the most egregious violations of the ceasefire was the cold-blooded killing of 23-year-old Sundus Shalabi, a pregnant Palestinian woman, who was gunned down by Israeli forces at a military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.
According to eyewitnesses and an internal Israeli investigation, Shalabi was an innocent civilian who posed no threat when she was executed by Israeli soldiers. She was traveling in a car with her husband when Israeli forces opened fire, killing her husband instantly.
Shalabi, eight months pregnant, managed to exit the car, but Israeli soldiers shot her three times in the chest at close range. Despite being critically wounded, Israeli forces blocked emergency medical teams from reaching her. By the time paramedics were allowed access, she had succumbed to her injuries. Doctors managed to deliver her baby via an emergency C-section, leaving the newborn orphaned before taking its first breath.
No weapons were found on Shalabi or in the vehicle. Israeli officials later justified the killing by claiming that she “looked suspiciously at the ground,” an explanation widely condemned as absurd and proof of Israel’s shoot-to-kill policy against Palestinian civilians.
Had this been a pregnant Israeli woman killed by Palestinian militants, the global outrage would have been immediate. Instead, Shalabi’s murder has been largely ignored by mainstream Western media.
Largely unreported statement by Hamas makes their position clear
Hamas issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire agreement while accusing Israel of multiple violations that have led to the suspension of hostage releases. The statement reads as follows:
“Hamas confirms its commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the Zionist occupation is committed to them. Hamas has implemented all its obligations accurately and on time. The occupation, however, did not abide by the terms of the agreement and carried out many violations, which included:
- Delaying the return of displaced persons to the northern Gaza Strip.
- Targeting civilians with shelling and shooting, resulting in numerous casualties across the Gaza Strip.
- Obstructing the entry of essential shelter supplies, including tents, mobile homes, fuel, and equipment for removing rubble and retrieving bodies.
- Delaying the entry of medicines and medical supplies required for hospital renovations and the broader health sector.
“Hamas has documented and presented these violations to the mediators as they occurred, yet the occupation continued its breaches. We call for strict adherence to the agreement and reject any selective implementation that prioritizes less urgent aspects while obstructing critical humanitarian provisions.”
Hamas further stated that the decision to suspend the release of hostages serves as a warning to Israel and a means of pressuring it to comply fully with the ceasefire terms:
“Postponing the release of prisoners is a warning message to the occupation, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to the terms of the agreement. Hamas deliberately announced this decision five days before the scheduled handover of prisoners to give mediators sufficient time to pressure the occupation to fulfill its obligations. The door remains open for the exchange to proceed on schedule if Israel complies fully with its commitments.”
The statement underscores Hamas’s position that Israel’s actions undermine the ceasefire and that further negotiations depend on its compliance with the agreement.
Israel Prepares for Renewed Attacks
With Netanyahu’s government canceling military leave and preparing for a renewed military assault on Gaza, the collapse of the ceasefire appears imminent. Israeli media have reported that Netanyahu and Trump had discussed a pre-planned strategy in which Israel would secure some hostage releases before resuming its military campaign—effectively making the ceasefire a sham.
Palestinian leaders and humanitarian organizations now warn that if hostilities resume, the scale of destruction will be even greater than before. With most of Gaza already in ruins, further attacks could render the region completely unlivable, forcing mass displacement and what many observers call a deliberate act of genocide.
As the world watches, the key question remains: will international powers intervene to enforce the ceasefire, or will Israel’s violations go unchecked, leading to further devastation in Gaza and beyond?
