Three Years After October 7: 'Neither War Nor Peace' in Gaza

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Three Years After October 7: 'Neither War Nor Peace' in Gaza.

Six plastic chairs, cheap, dented – for the 43-year-old driver and mechanic Ahmed Ishtaiwi, they are the most valuable thing he owns. Three years after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli offensive, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip tell the British newspaper "The Guardian" of a daily life that has nothing in common with their former lives.

The headline of the report from October 7, 2026, boils it down to a formula that has since appeared in several outlets: "Neither war nor peace." What remained after the formal ceasefire of October 10, 2025, is – according to consistent reporting by "The Guardian," Al Jazeera, and others – a situation that fluctuates between relative calm and recurring violence, with no tangible improvement for the civilian population.

What this means: The headline of the ceasefire stands, but the situation of people on the ground has barely changed according to the available reports. What the sources consistently show – and where they differ – an overview.

Six Chairs and a Life in Transition

The "Guardian" portrays in its report survivors like Ahmed Ishtaiwi, who must organize his daily life amid displacement, illness, and destroyed infrastructure. The six plastic chairs stand as a symbol of a reality in which even simple everyday objects become precious goods. The newspaper speaks of lives that have been "changed beyond recognition" – a formulation shared by other reports.

Concretely, the available sources consistently name: water shortages, lack of nutritious food, minimal healthcare, and rampant disease. Al Jazeera described the situation six months after the ceasefire came into effect as "daily volatility in all areas of life."

What the Ceasefire Promised – and What Remains of It

According to the portal "CRBC News," the ceasefire agreement was signed on October 10, 2025. It reportedly contained several commitments: a complete halt to operations, a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the daily entry of 600 aid trucks. After six months, these commitments had remained "largely unfulfilled," according to "CRBC News."

Other reports confirm this picture. The program "Democracy Now" reported on February 9, 2026, on the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing to Egypt – under chaotic conditions and with "strict restrictions by Israel." Tens of thousands of Palestinians were reportedly waiting to leave. Al Jazeera also speaks of "ongoing Israeli violations" of the ceasefire.

The Casualty Figures Since October 10, 2025

How many people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire can only be read from the available sources to a limited extent and with reservations. "Middle East Eye" puts the figure at 1,381 Palestinians; Deutsche Welle most recently spoke of "over 1,000" killed, citing the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza. The figures differ but overlap in magnitude and trend: people continue to die from Israeli attacks since the ceasefire.

"Middle East Eye" also reports that in an attack, at least two Palestinians were killed, including a child; many more were injured.

What the Sources Assess – and What They Leave Open

What unites the reports is the diagnosis of a permanent humanitarian crisis: according to the available accounts, the promises of October 2025 have not translated into any tangible improvement for the population. The formulation "neither war nor peace" – which appears in "The Guardian," in Al Jazeera, and in several follow-up reports – describes this state of limbo.

What remains open is what the reports do not cover: an independent, official tally of casualties, a concrete breakdown of aid deliveries, and the question of which parts of the original agreement have since been implemented. Here the available sources leave you – and any further assessment depends on which bodies will publish reliable figures in the future.