GAZA (Dunya News) - The brutalities of Israeli forces continued in 2025, even as a US-led ceasefire attempt sought to stabilise the region.
On January 19, 2025, under the mediation of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, accompanied by a prisoner exchange on both sides.
However, the truce did not hold. Within three months, Israel reportedly violated the agreement 962 times and resumed heavy attacks on Gaza from March 18 onward.
In March, Israel imposed restrictions on aid entry into Gaza, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties.
Civilians searching for food were targeted, and by August 22, the United Nations officially declared Gaza a famine-stricken area.
Under growing international pressure, US President Donald Trump proposed a 20-point plan for a Gaza ceasefire on September 29.
In October, Hamas also approved the ceasefire, and on October 13, the Gaza Peace Agreement was signed in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, with leaders from over 20 countries present.
President Trump signed the agreement as a guarantor, although representatives from Israel and Hamas were not present at the signing.
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According to the US plan, an interim international stabilization force would be established in Gaza, comprising Arab countries and other global partners.
However, the force began to collapse before formation: the UAE, Jordan, and Azerbaijan refused to send troops, and Israel rejected the inclusion of Turkish forces.
While the agreement facilitated some prisoner exchanges, Israel reportedly violated the terms over 300 times and blocked essential humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza.
Even after the ceasefire, the recovery of bodies from the rubble of devastated Gaza continues.
Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 10,000 bodies remain trapped under debris. International organizations report that Gaza is buried under five million tons of rubble, with reconstruction costs expected to exceed $7 billion.
During the ceasefire, Israel also intercepted and detained members of aid flotillas, marking the second such incident in 2025.
Additionally, Israel’s plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank emerged during this period, with preliminary approval granted by the Israeli Parliament.
Throughout 2025, global protests and calls for a two-state solution and an end to Israeli violations echoed worldwide, highlighting the ongoing struggle for peace and justice in Palestine.