Gaza Death Toll Rises Amid Ceasefire
The State of Palestine has reported that the death toll from Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip has reached 71,412, with 171,314 people injured since October 2023, amid continued fighting and alleged ceasefire breaches.
In a statement issued this week, Palestinian officials said that despite a ceasefire that came into effect on October 11, 2025, Israeli forces have continued military operations, resulting in a further 442 deaths and 1,236 injuries. The Palestinian leadership described these actions as “flagrant violations” of the ceasefire agreement.
Ambassador Tamer Almassri strongly condemned what he called Israel’s ongoing disregard for the truce, linking the continued violence in Gaza to what he described as a sharp escalation of settlement activity and settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
According to the statement, Israeli settlers, whom Palestinian officials describe as operating with impunity, have intensified attacks on Palestinian communities. These reportedly include cutting off electricity, attacking homes, and intimidating residents, forcing families to flee. One of the most recent incidents cited occurred in Ras al-Auja, where more than 50 Palestinian families were allegedly driven from their homes after living there for decades.
“The unchecked rise in settler terrorism has created an environment of fear and intimidation,” the statement said, adding that the actions amount to a systematic attempt to displace Palestinians and erode their presence in the West Bank.
The Palestinian government warned that these developments pose a serious threat to any prospects for peace and stability in the region. It called for an immediate end to all settlement expansion, a halt to settler violence, and the release of Palestinian funds that it says are being withheld by Israel.
The statement also appealed to the international community to take “concrete measures” to hold Israel accountable for its actions, arguing that continued inaction risks further destabilizing the region.
Despite the worsening humanitarian and political situation, Palestinian leaders said their people remain committed to pursuing freedom, justice, and self-determination, vowing not to be deterred by what they described as attempts to undermine their national aspirations.
