Rabat – Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Palestinians in Gaza have found no lasting relief from the Israeli aggression they hoped would end. Instead, the truce has revealed the grim reality of destroyed homes, overcrowded shelters, scarce food and fuel, and continuous Israeli violations of the agreement that was meant to bring calm.
For tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians, the phrase “safe haven” is increasingly hollow. Many now live in damaged schools, tents, or temporary shelters run by UNRWA. Some of them were badly worn out or leaking, with few amenities and little privacy. As one mother put it, “They say the war is over, but every day I hear bombing.”
In areas such as eastern parts of Gaza City and southern Gaza, residents report that shelling and drone strikes continue despite the accord. Israeli occupation forces are still destroying farms and homes. The local health ministry counts hundreds of Palestinians killed and wounded since the truce began. This shows that the ceasefire has not brought genuine cessation of violence.
With hundreds of thousands displaced, shelters have become dangerously crowded. Many tents are clustered in former school yards or open lots, lacking adequate sanitation or safe water supplies. Exposure to the elements is rising as winter approaches. Worn-out tents, muddy grounds, and cold nights combine to make survival a daily challenge.
Families are simply trying to survive inside these makeshift homes. Images show children walking barefoot through muddy corridors, elderly people struggling with inadequate heating, and for many, the sense of home is gone. The smell of olive trees, the garden they planted years ago, everything obliterated in a blast or leveled by artillery.
A fragile truce, and broken promises
Despite the promise of increased humanitarian access under the ceasefire, aid remains far below what is needed. Only around 25-30 % of expected supplies have entered, said Amjad al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian agencies that liaise with the UN. Plus food diversity is minimal, as many households rely solely on cereals and pulses, with very little meat, eggs, fruits, or vegetables. Cooking fuel is so scarce that over 60 % of families resort to burning waste, which raises serious health hazards.
And as winter fast approaches, the inadequate shelter and damaged infrastructure are expected to worsen the already fragile living conditionswith risks of illness and flooding in tent camps.
“We’re coming into winter soon – rainwater and possible floods, as well as potential diseases because of the hundreds of tons of garbage near populated areas,” al-Shawa stated.
While the ceasefire has symbolically halted full-scale war, its substance has been deeply undermined. Israel has committed more than 125 ceasefire violations in the early days of the truce. Meanwhile, destruction of homes, civilian casualties, and restricted movement continue.
For many Palestinians, the truce is less a relief than a pause in the wreckage. The illusion of peace gives the appearance of stability, but on the ground, the bombs have not ceased, and the daily struggle persists.
Families cling to fragments of normality. They hope to return to their land, to plant olive trees again, to feel the soil beneath their feet. But for now, their roots remain buried in the rubble. Their children are growing up in tents, their memories shadowed by Israeli explosions.
The ceasefire in Gaza has opened a window, but the house it revealed is shattered. And for many Palestinians here, the war may have paused, but the suffering has not.
