NGOs denounce that ceasefire in Gaza exists only “in the name”

Mtoday Israel has been accused by 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of continuing to kill and injure Palestinians on a daily basis and of maintaining restrictions preventing the recovery of Gaza, where the ceasefire “is only in the name”.

In a joint statement, NGOs warn that “murders and deprivations in Gaza should not be standardised under the pretext of a ceasefire agreement,” agreed in October, maintaining that the population continues to face extreme humanitarian conditions.

According to the signatories, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire came into force, including at least 327 children, following Israeli attacks, shootings and military operations.

The NGOs also state that hundreds of bodies remain buried under the rubble, as the Israeli authorities restrict the entry of machinery necessary for removal and rescue operations.

The board member of the Palestinian NGO Network Mohsen Abu Ramadan argued that local organisations continue to meet the needs of the population despite the destruction of facilities, the displacement of workers and the reduction of funding.

“The Israeli Government must put an end to attacks and restrictions that hinder daily humanitarian work, while donors must provide direct and flexible funding to meet existing needs,” he said.

The organizations also accuse Israel of extending the so-called “Yellow Line” beyond the limits provided for in the ceasefire agreement, further reducing the area available to the Palestinian population and aggravating overcrowding.

The Executive Director of Save the Children considered in the statement that the ceasefire lost meaning in the face of the continuation of the deaths of children and the impossibility of many families rebuilding their lives.

“ Since the announcement of the ceasefire, a child has been killed almost every day,” said Inger Ashing.

The NGOs further stress that more than 80% of Gaza's structures have suffered damage, including around two thirds that have been destroyed.

The statement adds that as winter approaches, hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in tents, improvised shelters or damaged buildings, being exposed to cold, wind and floods.

At the same time, almost a quarter of the household in the territory is currently headed by women, who face an increased risk of living in precarious housing conditions.

NGOs also state that none of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are fully functioning due to the shortage of medicines, equipment and fuel.

More than 18,500 patients, including at least 4,000 children, are awaiting medical evacuation, while more than 1,000 people will have died while waiting for transfer to treatment, they add.

The Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, described the situation as “absolutely shameful”, arguing that governments should take concrete steps to ensure the entry without restrictions of humanitarian aid, equipment and reconstruction materials.

The communiqué also maintains that about 1.4 million people face hunger levels classified as crisis or higher by the end of the year and warns of the spread of diseases associated with the lack of drinking water and the degradation of sanitation systems.

The NGOs consider that the current situation contradicts the objectives of the ceasefire and recall that the conditions observed in Gaza led the United Nations Committee of Inquiry to conclude, in reports released in 2025 and 2026, that Israel committed genocide.

The Secretary-General of Amnesty International argued that the reconstruction of Gaza should be based on international law, justice and accountability for the crimes committed.

“The persistent inability to hold Israel accountable and to ensure compliance with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice continues to fuel atrocious crimes against the Palestinians on a large scale,” said Agnès Callamard.