Gaza Strip: Ceasefire fails to protect civilians
15.12.2025
Reading time
2 minutes
Two months after the ceasefire came into force on 10 October, daily life in the Gaza Strip remains marked by violence and humanitarian suffering. Despite the truce, civilians continue to be killed: at least 376 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began, highlighting the ongoing lack of safety for the population.
The ceasefire was intended to enable the free flow of humanitarian aid and to prevent civilian casualties. However, both objectives have only been partially met. Assuming that approximately 80% of those killed are civilians, the number of civilian deaths during the ceasefire remains comparable to those in other ongoing armed conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.
Access to healthcare is severely limited. Fewer than 40% of medical facilities are currently functioning, and half of Gaza’s hospitals remain closed. Overcrowded shelters, destroyed homes and damaged infrastructure make it difficult for residents to meet even their most basic needs, including access to clean water and sanitation.
Some improvement has been observed at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where planned surgeries have become possible again. Nevertheless, many patients continue to suffer from malnutrition, which complicates treatment and slows recovery, according to medical staff supported by the Polish Medical Mission.
The situation is particularly dire for people with disabilities. Over two years of conflict, their number has increased by up to 42,000, including around 6,000 people who have undergone limb amputations. The Polish Medical Mission continues to support civilians in Gaza by deploying monthly medical teams to Al-Aqsa Hospital, performing approximately 150 surgeries and more than 1,000 medical consultations each month.
