The Government Media Office has reported that a staggering quarter of a million housing units in the Gaza Strip have been completely or partially destroyed as a result of the brutal war, which has lasted for 470 days. According to a spokesperson for the office, hundreds of thousands of families in Gaza are now homeless, facing unimaginable hardship and devastation.
The spokesperson explained that there is an urgent need for assistance, with the entry of 200,000 tents and 60,000 mobile homes to provide shelter to those displaced. In addition, the people of Gaza require 600 trucks daily to deliver food and essential supplies, as the ongoing blockade and destruction have severely impacted food access.
The media office further reported that more than 11,000 people remain missing under the rubble, while the bodies of martyrs, some of which have started to decompose, are being recovered. The toll of destruction is not only material; it is deeply human, with 800,000 students deprived of education, and entire communities shattered.
On Sunday, the long-awaited ceasefire agreement between Palestinian resistance factions and Israel came into effect after more than 15 months of relentless violence. The ceasefire will unfold in three phases, with the first phase already agreed upon. This includes key measures such as an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced people, the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange. Mediators are expected to continue negotiations to reach a lasting and permanent end to the war.
