Gaza: After prolonged delays and continued Israeli aggression, the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip finally took effect at 11:15 am today, following 15 months of relentless Israeli actions, including siege and starvation, that left catastrophic consequences in their wake.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the agreement, which was brokered by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was ratified by the Israeli government on Saturday, January 18. The ceasefire was initially set to begin at 8:30 AM Sunday morning.
The ceasefire deal is planned to unfold in three phases, with the first phase lasting 42 days, during which the details of the second and third phases will be negotiated.
The toll of the aggression, which began in October 2023, has been immense, particularly in Gaza, where over 157,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured, with most of them being women and children. The onslaught has left more than 11,000 Palestinians missing, alongside widespread destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of numerous children and the elderly.
Israeli occupation forces and colonists have escalated attacks in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of 835 Palestinians and injuries to thousands more. Thousands have been detained, homes and structures demolished, and military checkpoints erected to isolate towns, villages, and cities. Meanwhile, laws passed by the Israeli Knesset have increased pressure on Palestinians, particularly by restricting their movement and activities and undermining the work of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
In the Gaza Strip, since the beginning of October 2023, Israeli forces launched a brutal offensive, resulting in the deaths of at least 46,899 Palestinians, including 17,581 children and 12,048 women. More than 110,725 have been injured, and around 11,000 remain missing. Over 85% of Gaza's residents-more than 1.93 million people-have been displaced due to the destruction of their homes, while an additional 100,000 people have fled the region.
The closure of all Gaza crossings and the ongoing siege have caused severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel. Education has also been severely impacted, with 788,000 students unable to attend school for two consecutive years, and 77 schools destroyed, alongside 191 schools damaged. The destruction of Gaza's economy has been unprecedented, with the GDP shrinking by over 82% by the end of 2024, leading to an unemployment rate of 80%.
In the West Bank, including Jerusalem, the Israeli aggression has claimed the lives of 835 Palestinians, including 173 children. Israeli settlers and forces have carried out nearly 20,000 attacks on Palestinian citizens and their properties. The Israeli occupation has confiscated 53,000 dunums of Palestinian land and legalized the expansion of settlements, building thousands of new housing units and settler outposts.
Since October 2023, Israeli authorities have escalated their crackdown on Palestinian prisoners, with over 25,000 Palestinians detained, including 13,000 from the West Bank. Administrative detention has been widely used, with nearly 10,000 Palestinians subjected to this measure.
The ongoing siege and Israeli confiscations of Palestinian tax revenues have deepened the financial crisis faced by the Palestinian Authority. As a result, public sector employees have not been fully paid for months, and vital services such as healthcare and education are on the brink of collapse. The overall Palestinian economy, including Gaza and the West Bank, has suffered a catastrophic decline, with the national GDP shrinking by an estimated 28% by the end of 2024.
The Israeli Knesset has passed several laws targeting Palestinians, including measures to limit the operations of UNRWA and further encroach on Palestinian territory. Palestinians within Israel have also faced intensified repression during the period of the Gaza aggression, with emergency laws implemented to suppress protests and restrict freedom of expression.
The ongoing Israeli aggression has plunged Palestine into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, with widespread devastation, loss of life, and suffering. Despite the ceasefire agreement, the long-term impacts will be felt for generations to come, as the Palestinian people continue to endure occupation, displacement, and systematic oppression.