Amnesty: Israel still committing “genocide” in Gaza despite ceasefire

Amnesty International has warned that “Israeli authorities are still committing genocide” in Gaza, accusing them of launching new attacks and choking off humanitarian aid despite a declared ceasefire.

According to the rights group, Israel has violated the ceasefire more than 500 times in seven weeks, killing at least 347 Palestinians and injuring 889 others since the truce came into effect on October 10. Nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began more than two years ago.

“So far, there is no indication that Israel is taking serious measures to reverse the deadly impact of its crimes and no evidence that its intent has changed,” said Amnesty’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard. “In fact, Israeli authorities are continuing their ruthless policies, restricting access to vital humanitarian aid and essential services, and deliberately imposing conditions calculated to physically destroy Palestinians in Gaza.”

“The world must not be fooled. Israel’s genocide is not over,” she said.

Her statement came as Israeli forces carried out fresh air strikes in southern and central Gaza, including areas beyond the yellow line where troops are meant to remain withdrawn. Targets reportedly included buildings in Bureij refugee camp and eastern Khan Younis, in what Gaza’s civil defence describes as blatant breaches of the fragile truce.

At the same time, Israeli forces escalated raids across the occupied West Bank, conducting arrests and field interrogations in Qalqilya, Tubas, Hebron, Tulkarem and Nablus. In Tubas alone, at least 25 people were assaulted and required medical treatment, according to a local Palestinian Red Crescent official.

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire edged closer to completion after Israel transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinian prisoners to Gaza authorities, following the return of another Israeli captive’s body by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Palestinian armed groups have now released all living captives and returned the remains of 26 out of 28 prisoners stipulated under the deal. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said this demonstrated the group’s “steadfast commitment to fully complete the exchange process and its ongoing efforts to finalise it despite significant difficulties”.

Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of 345 others, many reportedly showing signs of torture, mutilation and execution.