On January 15, 2025, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for a hostages-and-prisoners exchange alongside a ceasefire to end the Gaza war. The agreement officially came into effect on January 19. However, despite the so-called ceasefire, Israel has yet to fully lift its blockade on humanitarian aid, leaving Gaza on the brink of collapse.
Israeli forces remain stationed along Gaza’s border with Egypt, further tightening restrictions. The blockade has prevented fuel from reaching wells, cutting off access to clean water. Electricity remains nonexistent. Food shortages continue to worsen, with the denial of essential items such as white flour exacerbating the crisis. The ongoing siege is not just negligence; it is a calculated act of collective punishment designed to starve the people of Gaza into submission.
Starvation as a Weapon of Genocide
Human rights organizations have condemned Israel’s use of starvation as a deliberate tactic of war. Al-Haq, a prominent Palestinian human rights group, stated:
“Israel’s decision to reimpose a total blockade of all humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, particularly during the month of Ramadan, is yet another example of Israel violating the ceasefire agreement. This provides further proof of its manifest intent to eliminate Gaza’s population by creating conditions of life calculated to bring about their destruction, in continuing breach of provisional measures of the International Court of Justice.”
The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure has left the region incapable of sustaining itself. Three out of every five children are unable to receive an adequate Ramadan meal. The crisis deepens as 80% of Gaza’s agricultural land and two-thirds of its agricultural wells have been either damaged or completely destroyed. Livestock animals have been killed, increasing reliance on imported goods that are now being blocked from entering the region.
Systematic Destruction and Control
Beyond starvation, Israel is actively preventing Gaza from rebuilding. Construction materials, spare parts, and machinery remain banned. The systematic denial of these resources ensures that Gaza’s infrastructure remains in ruins, keeping the population in a state of dependence and despair.
The military has already laid waste to the region, and now the goal appears to be maintaining this devastation as a means of control.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued their attacks. Just days after the agreement, airstrikes targeted an area near Gaza City, killing at least six people. In East Rafah, a drone strike killed a Palestinian woman. Snipers and drones, including quadcopter aircraft, have been used to target civilians returning to their homes, particularly near the buffer zones. The goal is clear: terrorize and eliminate those who attempt to rebuild their lives.
On March 9, an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle carrying members of the Al-Khayr Foundation, a humanitarian organization providing aid in Gaza. Nine workers were killed, including:
- Bilal Abu Matar (Media)
- Mohammed Al-Ghafeer (Field Worker)
- Mahmoud Al-Saraj (Photographer)
- Bilal Akila (Photographer)
- Abu Hazem Sardah (Driver)
- Abu Suhaib Al-Najjar (Spokesperson)
- Mahmoud Aslim (Drone Photographer)
This targeted attack on aid workers further cements Israel’s strategy of destroying any support system for the people of Gaza, especially the journalists.
Silencing the Truth
The war on Gaza is not just physical; it is also digital. Social media platforms, particularly Instagram, have begun suppressing posts raising funds for Gazans, cutting off a critical lifeline for millions. Fundraising efforts that previously generated millions of dollars in aid are now being restricted, limiting global awareness and support.
Meanwhile, political suppression continues elsewhere. In the United States, President Donald Trump has labeled pro-Palestinian protests “illegal,” threatening to jail or deport students who speak out against the genocide. This is a form of social genocide; erasing voices, hiding the truth, and ensuring that atrocities continue unchallenged.
The so-called ceasefire in Gaza is an illusion. While bombs may have temporarily stopped falling, the war has shifted to another form of destruction: starvation, control, and suppression. Infrastructure remains in ruins, aid is being blocked, and those who dare to speak out are being silenced. The question is not whether genocide is happening; the question is why the world continues to let it happen.
As Bisan said,
“If you don’t see the genocide anymore, it doesn’t mean it has come to an end. It means they’ve gotten rid of those who showed it to the world.”