A year after the ceasefire, Gaza's promised recovery has not begun

One year after the ceasefire took effect in Gaza, Israeli attacks have continued, most of the Strip’s people remain displaced, and the reconstruction promised to Palestinians has yet to begin.

Since the truce began on October 10, 2025, Israeli violations of the agreement have killed more than 1,470 Palestinians and wounded over 5,180, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, The Express Tribune reported, citing Anadolu.

Most of Gaza’s roughly 2.1 million people are still displaced, many living in tents, damaged buildings or among the rubble. Palestinian authorities say the continuing attacks are an extension of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, launched in October 2023.

What the deal promised

The ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States, provided for a phased Israeli withdrawal, more aid, new governance arrangements and reconstruction.

Every Israeli captive has since been returned. On October 13, 2025, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives as Israel freed 1,968 Palestinian detainees, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The return of remains continued until January 26, 2026.

Withdrawal stalled and reversed

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):

• before the ceasefire, Israel controlled about 75 per cent of Gaza
• the first withdrawal, to the so-called “yellow line”, left about 53pc under Israeli deployment
• by late June, Israeli forces had pushed west of that line, leaving 64.9pc of Gaza under direct Israeli control or tighter restrictions
• by August, nearly two-thirds of the enclave was inaccessible to Palestinians or severely restricted

A roadmap Israel rejected

A 15-point roadmap tied limits on the weapons of Hamas and other factions to further Israeli withdrawals, an international force, a transfer of governance and reconstruction. Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye said on August 3 that the Palestinian factions had accepted it. Later that month, eight countries, including Saudi Arabia, said Israel had rejected it, blocking the wider plan.

A technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, headed by Ali Shaath, was set up in January, but the handover of governance is incomplete and the planned international stabilisation force has not been deployed.

Aid still blocked

OCHA said in September that Kerem Shalom was the only crossing open for goods after Zikim closed in May, and that Israeli restrictions were still blocking urgently needed shelter supplies, including thousands of tents and building materials.

The UN, European Union and World Bank estimate Gaza needs $71.4 billion over 10 years to recover, including $26.3bn in the first 18 months. Their assessment found 1.9 million Palestinians displaced and 371,888 homes damaged or destroyed.

The cost of the war

Since October 2023, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza, and around 90pc of the enclave’s infrastructure has been destroyed, according to Palestinian figures.

Why it matters

For Israel, the captives issue is closed. For Gaza’s displaced families, the promised move from war to recovery has not arrived. On Saturday, Palestinian flags filled streets in European cities as thousands marched against Israeli attacks on Gaza, Dawn reported.

This article draws on reporting by The Express Tribune, Anadolu and Dawn.