More than three months after a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli forces have continued attacks and restrictions on humanitarian aid, according to a United Nations briefing on Thursday. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that about 230,000 women and girls, including 15,000 pregnant women, are being denied essential reproductive health services due to Israeli military actions and blockade. The UN Population Fund reported that the destruction of hospitals, clinics, and health centers, along with displacement and flooding, has severely limited access to medical and psychological support.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with civilians suffering from cold and lack of shelter. A six-month-old child reportedly died in Khan Younis due to extreme cold, bringing the winter death toll to 11. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli shelling continued across Gaza, including in Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 477 people have been killed and 1,301 injured in the three months since the ceasefire, with total casualties from the conflict reaching over 71,000 dead and 171,000 injured.

Israeli operations have also intensified in the occupied West Bank, where several Palestinians were recently arrested in Nablus and Bethlehem.

Since October 2023, nearly 300 journalists have been killed in Gaza amid Israeli military operations. The latest Israeli airstrike in central Gaza killed three more journalists—Anas Gunayem, Abdul Rauf Shath, and Mohammad Keshta—while they were documenting events on the ground. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the same attack also killed at least 11 Palestinians, including two children.

Munir al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, said the vehicle carrying the photographers was deliberately targeted. The victims were reportedly working with the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief, which oversees Egyptian aid operations in the enclave. Al Jazeera reported that the strike occurred near Gaza’s so-called Netzarim Corridor, and videos circulating online showed a burned, bomb-damaged car emitting smoke.

Israeli army radio, citing a security source, claimed the car’s occupants were using a drone to gather intelligence on military forces, though this assertion could not be independently verified. Human rights organizations stated that repeated attacks on journalists constitute a direct violation of international law and press freedom.

The Rafah border crossing, closed for a long period due to Israel’s offensive and the war with Hamas, is set to reopen next week. The announcement came from a leader of the Palestinian technocrat administration in Washington, following discussions at the Peace Board. Palestinian technocrat leader Ali Shath stated via video link from Davos, Switzerland, that the crossing will open in both directions, describing it as Gaza’s lifeline and a symbol of hope and opportunity for its people.

Shath added that reopening Rafah signals a shift away from the policy of keeping Gaza completely sealed off. The decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to establish a Peace Board aimed at ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. One of the key conditions of the ceasefire, brokered by Trump in October, was the reopening of Gaza’s main entry points.

Since 2024, Israel has controlled the Rafah crossing, but no immediate comment was available from Israeli authorities. More than half of Gaza remains under Israeli control, including the area around the crossing, while the rest is under Hamas control.

The United Nations reported that water production in Gaza City has dropped by about 70 percent because of Israel’s blockade. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said at a press conference on Wednesday that restrictions on the entry of so-called dual-use materials have prevented the repair of damaged water supply lines, severely disrupting the city’s water output.

According to Haq, the main supply line runs from Israel into Gaza and lies before the so-called “yellow line,” where Israeli forces are deployed. He explained that a steel pipe needed to fix the damaged line is unavailable in Gaza because Israel bans its entry as a dual-use item. Israel has also rejected a UN partner request to repair one of Gaza’s key water wells.

Haq added that UN partners are now seeking alternative water sources and increasing water transport to maintain safe water supplies for residents amid the ongoing blockade.

At least 11 Palestinians, including two children and three journalists, were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Six others were injured in the strikes. The journalists—Anas Ghunaim, Abdul Ra’ouf Shaath, and Mohammad Qeshta—were working for the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief and were killed when their vehicle was hit in central Gaza near the Netzarim Corridor. The committee said they were filming a newly established displacement camp and that the vehicle was known to the Israeli military. Israeli Army Radio reported that the targeted vehicle’s occupants were allegedly using a drone to gather intelligence.

Separate attacks in central, southern, and northern Gaza killed additional civilians, including a father, his son, and another relative in Deir el-Balah, a 13-year-old boy in Bani Suheila, and a 32-year-old woman near Khan Younis. Two more Palestinians were killed in the north, according to Wafa news agency.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of repeatedly violating a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10. Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid into Gaza, where 2.2 million people face severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter amid cold weather.

The United Nations has reported that nearly 4,000 shelters across the Gaza Strip were damaged by a recent storm, affecting at least 80 displacement areas. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said at a press conference that despite daily obstacles and restrictions, humanitarian operations continue with the support of partner agencies. Over 660 families have already received emergency supplies, including food, tents, and tarpaulins.

Haq emphasized the urgent need for sustainable shelter solutions in Gaza, including repairing damaged homes, clearing debris, and restoring water and sanitation systems. He also noted that the Israeli military distributed leaflets in Bani Suheila and eastern Khan Younis, instructing residents to evacuate, while about 400 families remain in those areas.

The UN reiterated its call to ensure the protection of civilians under all circumstances, allow safe movement of people, and guarantee their right to return once conditions stabilize.

A Palestinian body tasked with overseeing Gaza’s future administration has unveiled a detailed plan as part of a US-backed ceasefire initiative. The National Committee for Gaza Management (NGAC), led by General Commissioner Ali Shath, pledged to restore essential services such as electricity, water, healthcare, and education, emphasizing the need to rebuild normal life after years of conflict and destruction.

According to the committee, reconstruction will proceed under the guidance of the US President Donald Trump-led ‘Board of Peace’ and with support from the High Representative for Gaza Affairs. The White House stated that NGAC was formed under Trump’s 20-point peace plan, approved by UN Security Council Resolution 2803. The committee will manage Gaza’s daily administration, oversee reconstruction, and work toward a self-governing system. However, local concerns have emerged over limited Palestinian representation and the influence of pro-Israel members within the new structures.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid into Gaza, prompting calls from the UN and aid agencies for the removal of barriers. Analysts suggest the US may be seeking a new model for Gaza management outside traditional international frameworks, raising questions about the initiative’s focus on economic recovery over political sovereignty.

A report by Middle East Eye describes how Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are trading household goods for basic food items amid worsening economic conditions. A mother from Bethlehem wrote in a private Facebook group that she exchanged kitchen utensils for olive oil and za’atar so her children could take food to school. Since the Gaza war began and Israeli restrictions tightened, such exchanges have become common, reflecting widespread hardship.

Economist Dr. Haitham Weida said the West Bank is being pushed toward a hunger crisis, where families cannot secure enough nutritious food. The region’s economy has deteriorated sharply since October 2023, with poverty reaching 28 percent and unemployment at similar levels. Israel’s restrictions have halted most Palestinian labor access, tourism, and tax revenues, while international aid has fallen to about $710–770 million in 2025. Nearly 898 checkpoints now hinder trade and movement.

The worsening situation has forced many Palestinians to risk their lives crossing into Israel for work. Labor unions report at least 38 workers killed and over 1,500 injured between October 2023 and September 2025 while attempting to find employment.

The United Nations has reported that more than 60 million tons of debris now cover the Gaza Strip after over two years of Israeli military aggression. UN Under-Secretary and Executive Director of the Office for Project Services Jorge Moreira da Silva stated on Thursday that clearing the rubble could take more than seven years. He described the humanitarian situation as dire, with residents exhausted, fearful, and under immense pressure amid cold weather and heavy rain.

Despite a ceasefire declared on October 10, Israeli forces have continued attacks across Gaza. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 12 people were killed and 18 injured in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since the ceasefire to 463. Overall, more than 71,000 people have been killed and over 171,000 injured during the two-year conflict.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced the second phase of its Gaza peace plan. President Donald Trump said a “Board of Peace” had been selected to oversee postwar governance under a Palestinian technocratic committee and reiterated his demand for Hamas to disarm immediately.

Residents of Gaza City have voiced skepticism about the recently announced second phase of the ceasefire agreement, saying that many commitments from the first stage have yet to be implemented. Several Palestinians told Al Jazeera that crossings were supposed to open, prices were expected to fall, and Israeli attacks were to stop, but none of these changes have materialized. Instead, they said, the only difference has been their displacement from the south to the northern parts of the enclave.

A woman interviewed said that Gaza’s situation remains unchanged and urged that the first phase be completed properly before moving to the next stage. Another resident said he was not hopeful because aid and food had not arrived and the ceasefire was not enforced as promised. With ongoing bombardments and killings, many said they could not find shelter or even tents.

The report reflects widespread frustration among Gazans who see little progress on the ground despite official announcements of a new ceasefire phase.

The second phase of the US-backed Gaza peace plan has begun despite violations of the ceasefire and unresolved issues from the first stage between Israel and Hamas, according to AFP. On Wednesday, a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee was formed in Gaza to oversee daily governance and reconstruction. The committee will operate under the supervision of a US-supported 'Peace Board' chaired by US President Donald Trump. Mediator nations Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar stated that former Palestinian deputy minister Ali Shath from Ramallah will lead the committee.

The first phase focused on implementing the ceasefire, allowing humanitarian aid, and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and allied groups. However, only the body of one Israeli hostage was returned, while full disarmament of Hamas and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza remain unresolved.

The second phase will emphasize disarmament, governance restructuring, and ensuring humanitarian assistance. Yet, the core political challenges—Hamas’s disarmament and Palestinian unity—remain unsettled, posing significant obstacles to the peace process ahead.

At least ten Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip as the second phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan proceeded. According to the Wafa news agency, Israeli forces bombed two houses in Deir al-Balah city in the evening, killing six people, including a 16-year-old boy. The Israeli military claimed that one of the dead, Muhammad al-Hawli, was a commander in Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili confirmed that a senior Qassam Brigades member was among the dead.

Additional casualties were reported in separate incidents: one person was shot dead near the Al-Alm intersection west of Rafah, another was killed in an Israeli strike on a police post near the Al-Nablusi junction in southwest Gaza City, and two more died in an airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Hamas condemned the attack on al-Hawli’s home as a “heinous crime,” calling it evidence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s disregard for the October ceasefire, though it did not confirm the commander’s death.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan on Wednesday through a post on social media platform X. According to Witkoff, this phase will focus on disarmament, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. He warned that Hamas must fully comply with its obligations under the agreement, including the handover of all Israeli hostages’ bodies, or face serious consequences.

The report stated that since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza over a two-year period. A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the enclave for the past three months. The first phase of the plan included the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages.

Witkoff thanked Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar for their mediation efforts, crediting them for the progress achieved so far. The US State Department welcomed Palestinian support for Trump’s 20-point plan, describing it as a positive step toward stability in the region.

Thirteen-year-old Omar Halawa from northern Gaza lost his right leg after being hit during an Israeli attack in October 2025 while fetching water near the Jabalia area. His mother, Yasmin Halawa, told Al Jazeera that the family had been displaced more than 15 times and that Omar’s injury occurred amid severe water shortages. The family buried his severed leg near their tent, and Omar visits the grave daily, saying his leg has gone to heaven before him.

Omar’s sister Layan was also injured in a November 2023 airstrike, and their eight-year-old cousin was killed. Yasmin said her children have been deeply traumatized, with Omar now frightened even by small noises. UNICEF spokesperson Kazem Abu Khalaf told Al Jazeera that Gaza’s children are living in the world’s most terrifying place instead of enjoying their childhood. According to the report, more than 71,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children, have been killed in two years of Israeli attacks, and around 42,000 children have been injured.

UNICEF noted that even after a ceasefire, over 95 children have been killed, underscoring the continuing danger for Gaza’s young population.

Bedouin residents of Ras Ain al-Auja village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are dismantling their sheep pens and loading belongings onto trucks as they prepare to leave their homes. Facing increasing violence from Israeli settlers, many families say they have no choice but to flee. According to AFP, the semi-nomadic Bedouin community is among the most vulnerable, alleging that the lack of effective law enforcement has left them victims of forced displacement.

Local resident Farhan Jahalin said two years of continuous settler attacks have devastated their community, making it impossible to remain. UN data cited in the report shows settler attacks in the West Bank reached a record 260 incidents in October last year. About half of the 130 families in the village have already decided to relocate, while others are dismantling their homes. Residents accuse settlers of cutting water and electricity supplies and grazing livestock near Bedouin homes to create fear and pressure.

The Israeli military said it is aware of incidents in the Ras al-Ain area and has deployed forces to maintain order. However, Bedouins fear that even if they move elsewhere, they may face displacement again in the future.