Human Rights Watch reported that the humanitarian system, upon which the lives of residents in the Gaza Strip depend, continues to face existential threats, more than six months after the ceasefire agreement concluded in October 2025. These warnings coincide with international preparations for a Security Council briefing on the implementation of the conflict resolution plan, amidst human rights skepticism about the effectiveness of these diplomatic moves in the face of the bitter reality on the ground.
Adam Coogle, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division at the organization, explained that the lived reality in Gaza completely contradicts political reports, as Palestinians continue to suffer from the burden of hunger and systematic deprivation of basic medical care. Coogle pointed out that the continued targeting of civilians proves that the war machine has not actually stopped claiming lives, making talk of stabilizing the situation mere baseless claims.
Regarding the crossings, the organization documented the Israeli authorities' closure of all access points to the Strip at the end of February 2026, coinciding with a regional military escalation, which led to a sharp collapse in the flow of supplies. The average number of trucks entering weekly decreased from 4200 trucks to only about 590 trucks, representing a huge deficit in the basic needs of the population for food, medicine, and commercial goods.
Concerning the health situation, reports issued by the World Health Organization revealed that only 19 out of 37 hospitals are partially operational, while the rest of the facilities are completely out of service. These hospitals suffer from a shortage of about 46% of essential medicines, in addition to strict restrictions imposed by the occupation on the entry of generators and spare parts necessary to operate vital medical equipment.
Medical statistics indicate that more than 43,000 Palestinians have sustained injuries resulting in permanent disabilities, with children accounting for a quarter of this huge number of victims. More than 50,000 people need long-term medical rehabilitation programs, at a time when Israeli forces deliberately disrupt rehabilitation facilities and prevent access to necessary supplies for treating the injured and those with special needs.
In the displacement camps, international sources warned of an environmental and health catastrophe due to the spread of rodents and insects and the outbreak of skin infections and infectious diseases among the displaced. Sewage pumping stations in areas such as Khan Younis have completely stopped working, leading to streets being flooded with untreated waste, while water facilities rely on dilapidated generators and recycled oil.
On the ground, Israeli military attacks continued to claim lives, with the Ministry of Health recording the deaths of at least 856 Palestinians and the injury of thousands of others since the supposed truce began. Aid workers were also not spared from targeting, with 593 workers killed since October 2023, including eight who died in recent months, prompting international organizations to suspend their services in some areas to ensure the safety of their teams.
Human Rights Watch concluded its report by emphasizing that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obligated to ensure access to food, water, and medical services for civilians without restrictions. The organization called on the international community to pressure for the lifting of the ban on UNRWA and to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, stressing that the use of starvation as a weapon of war amounts to genocide crimes that must be held accountable.
Palestinians in Gaza are still hungry and deprived of medical care, and civilians are still being killed, and this is the reality of life no matter what is said in the Security Council.
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Human Rights Watch: Occupation continues to cut off lifelines in Gaza despite truce agreements