The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have committed more than 350 violations of the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on 19 January 2025, according to Ismail Thawabta, Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza. These breaches constitute a flagrant challenge to international law and a continued disregard for Israel’s obligations under the agreement.
The violations occur against the backdrop of dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer from ongoing Israeli attacks that have resulted in the deaths of many Palestinian civilians. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza remains fragile, as past agreements have been persistently violated.
Under international humanitarian law, all parties to a conflict are legally bound to uphold their commitments to ceasefire agreements, which include refraining from attacks on civilians and civilian areas, as well as ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. These obligations are enshrined in the Geneva Conventions, which provide explicit protections for civilians during armed conflict.
The deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is classified as a war crime under international law, yet Israeli forces have continued to carry out military operations, including airstrikes and ground incursions targeting civilian areas in Gaza, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, Israeli attacks have killed 92 Palestinians and injured 822 others, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. These violations include airstrikes by warplanes and drones, as well as direct gunfire at civilians.
Reports have also documented Israeli incursions into border areas of Gaza, particularly in the east, where emergency response teams in Rafah have confirmed that Israeli military vehicles have repeatedly entered the region.
Further violations include direct attacks on civilians, destroying residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and other essential infrastructure. In a blatant breach of fundamental human rights, Israeli forces have also prevented displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, denying them their right to safe return.
The ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire have worsened the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which remains under a suffocating blockade and widespread destruction of infrastructure. UN reports indicate that since the war began on 7 October 2023, over 160,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured. Tens of thousands have lost family members or suffered life-altering injuries, while more than 14,000 people remain missing, the majority of whom are women and children.
These repeated violations of human rights and international law underscore the urgent need for international accountability. The continued failure to hold Israel responsible for its actions has emboldened further breaches of legal obligations, deepening the suffering of Palestinian civilians. Human rights organisations and the international community must take decisive action to ensure Israel immediately halts these violations, protects civilian lives, and guarantees access to life-saving humanitarian aid.
