A fragile, internationally mediated ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has effectively collapsed, plunging the besieged enclave back into a state of crisis. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Israeli forces have killed 97 Palestinians and wounded 230 more in the days since the truce first took effect on October 10, 2025.

The office, in statements reported by Al Jazeera and other international media, detailed a grim timeline of escalating violence. It alleges that Israel has committed "80 documented violations" of the ceasefire agreement. These reported breaches, which culminated in a deadly wave of airstrikes on Sunday, October 19, have shattered the brief period of calm and undone the hopes of over two million civilians.

The ceasefire, brokered by the United States, was meant to end a devastating two-year war. That conflict has left more than 68,000 Palestinians dead and most of Gaza's infrastructure in ruins.

An Illegal Violation Pattern

The Gaza Government Media Office has held Israel "fully responsible" for the breakdown of the truce. In its statement, the office called on the United Nations and the agreement's guarantors to intervene and halt the aggression.

The 80 documented violations were not confined to one area. They were reportedly recorded across all governorates of the Gaza Strip. According to the official statement, these breaches included a wide range of military actions:

  • Direct Gunfire: Civilians were allegedly targeted with direct gunfire.

 

  • Shelling: Artillery and tank shelling were reported in residential areas

 

  • Deliberate Targeting: The office cited a policy of "deliberate targeting" and the creation of "fire belts.

 

  • Arrests: Several civilians were reportedly arrested in violation of the agreement.

The report also detailed the methods used in these alleged attacks. It claims Israeli forces used military vehicles, tanks stationed at the edges of neighborhoods, and advanced quadcopter drones to carry out live-fire missions against civilians.

This pattern of alleged breaches, which began as sporadic incidents, escalated dramatically over the weekend, leading to a full-scale military re-engagement.

The Human Cost: A Community and Family Loss Once More

The cost of the ceasefire's failure is being measured in human lives. Before the massive escalation on Sunday, the deadliest single reported violation occurred on Friday, October 17.

Eleven members of the Abu Shabaan family were killed by Israeli tank fire. According to Gaza's civil defence agency, the family was traveling in a bus. They were attempting to return to their home in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City to see what, if anything, remained.

The victims included seven children and three women. Relatives at the funeral expressed unimaginable grief, with one survivor telling Al Jazeera, "They are in shreds. All of them. They are torn to pieces."

This incident highlighted the extreme danger along the so-called "yellow line," an imaginary boundary marking the area of Israeli army control. Civil defence officials noted that there were no physical markers on the ground, making it impossible for civilians to know if they had crossed a forbidden line.

This tragedy was a prelude to the events of Sunday. A wave of intense Israeli airstrikes swept across central and southern Gaza. Health officials in Gaza reported that at least 42 to 45 Palestinians were killed in these strikes alone, bringing the total post-ceasefire death toll to 97.

The Humanitarian Effects and Counter-Claims

The Israeli military has claimed its strikes on Sunday were not unprovoked. An IDF spokesperson stated the attacks were a response to an earlier ambush by Hamas militants in Rafah that killed two Israeli soldiers.

Hamas officials, however, have denied this. They rejected the claim as a "flimsy pretext" for a pre-planned escalation by the Israeli government.

Regardless of the trigger, the humanitarian consequences were immediate and catastrophic. Following the Sunday attacks, Israeli authorities halted all humanitarian aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip.

This move threatens to deepen an already dire famine. The UN has warned that Gaza's population is facing widespread starvation and a collapse of its health system. The truce had allowed only a small trickle of vital supplies, and the closure of this lifeline, even temporarily, has created widespread panic.

Furthermore, Palestinian officials reported that the aggression was not limited to Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces reportedly seized 30 hectares (74 acres) of Palestinian land, adding to the tensions.

As of Monday, October 20, the Ceasefire Violation is in ruins. The brief pause that allowed families to search for food or mourn their dead is over. With airstrikes resuming and aid cut off, the civilians of Gaza are once again trapped in an active warzone, with no safe haven and no clear path to survival. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. How many Palestinians were reportedly killed since the ceasefire began?

According to the Gaza Government Media Office, 97 Palestinians were killed and 230 were wounded in the period after the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025.

2. Who does the Gaza Media Office blame for the ceasefire violations?

The office holds Israel "fully responsible" for the truce's collapse, alleging that its forces committed 80 documented violations, including direct shelling, gunfire on civilians, and deliberate targeting.

3. What was the deadliest single incident reported since the truce started?

One of the deadliest reported incidents was an Israeli tank strike on a bus, which killed 11 members of the Abu Shabaan family, including seven children. They were reportedly trying to return to their home in Gaza City.

4. How did Israel explain its major airstrikes on Sunday?

The Israeli military stated its wave of airstrikes, which killed over 40 Palestinians, was a response to an earlier attack by Hamas militants in Rafah that killed two Israeli soldiers. Hamas denied this claim.

5. What was the immediate humanitarian impact of the renewed violence?

Following the major escalation on Sunday, Israeli authorities halted all humanitarian aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip, worsening the already severe famine and humanitarian crisis.