Gaza’s fragile ceasefire, flooded tents and continuing restrictions on aid

Gunfire continues despite the ceasefire

The agreement reached on 9 October 2025 under Donald Trump’s 20-point plan brought home the 20 surviving Israeli hostages on 13 October 2025. The return of the bodies of the hostages who had died was completed in late January 2026 ¹. On 30 October, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reported that Israel had outlined plans to expand its deployment zone to 70% of Gaza ⁵.

The ceasefire has not ended the violence. In its report of 5 November 2026, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cites Gaza’s Health Ministry, which answers to the de facto authorities. The ministry reported 1,593 people killed and 5,748 wounded since the ceasefire, including 36 killed and 145 wounded between 27 October and 2 November ². On 4 November, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet said they had killed six men in Khan Younis and identified them as belonging to three groups: Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Army of Islam ³. Gunfire hit tents at a displacement site in northern Rafah on 3 November, forcing an NGO to leave the area, according to OCHA. The UN secretary-general’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, reiterated that “civilians, including humanitarian workers, must always be protected” ⁴.

According to OHCHR representative Ajith Sunghay, Israeli forces appeared to be treating the “yellow line” as a zone where anyone trying to return risked being shot ⁵. The sources consulted carried no Israeli response to those allegations.

Aid gets through, under restrictions

From 26 October to 1 November, 466 trucks for the UN and its partners were scheduled at Kerem Shalom, 28% fewer than in the previous week. Of these, 397 were unloaded on the Israeli side ². Gaza’s chamber of commerce separately reported that 498 commercial loads had been collected inside Gaza ². On the evening of 1 November, Israel announced that, with some exceptions, it was suspending humanitarian and commercial shipments from Egypt, citing smuggling ². Food security organisations estimate that community kitchens’ daily output could fall from about 600,000 meals to 330,000 ².

OCHA also reports that timber has been denied entry, preventing the construction of emergency shelters, and that very few spare parts, generators and supplies of engine oil have been allowed in ². Estimated winter needs stand at 121,000 tents and 561,000 tarpaulins. On 1 November, stocks inside Gaza totalled about 2,800 tents and 76,000 tarpaulins ². The winter response plan puts the cost at $267.9 million, with a funding gap of $186.5 million ².

The rains of 6 and 7 November

The rain began on the evening of 6 November ⁶. According to preliminary figures in OCHA’s 8 November report, more than 26,000 households reported damage. More than 6,000 shelters were destroyed and 17,400 damaged. Over 3,900 households were left without shelter, and water reached a depth of 1.5 metres in places ⁶. OCHA said an infant had reportedly drowned at a displacement site. At Al Berka, near Deir al-Balah, a sand hill collapsed onto tents, killing five displaced people, three children and two women, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence, a service run by Hamas ⁶⁷.

Stocks of tents, tarpaulins and blankets inside Gaza are “virtually depleted”, OCHA writes, while more than 150,000 tents await entry, including 117,000 in El Arish, Egypt. The agency is seeking more Israeli permits for shelter materials, pumps and heavy machinery ⁶. According to Israel’s mission to the UN, cited by the Times of Israel, the UK is rallying some 50 countries behind a statement asking Israel to ease these restrictions before winter. London has not confirmed this ⁷. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon responded that “the international community points the finger at Israel while ignoring the responsibility of the terrorist organisation” ⁷.

The next stage of the plan remains on hold

By mid-October, the international deployment appeared to number only a few dozen people, according to the Jerusalem Post ¹. According to a timeline Jared Kushner published in October, Hamas reportedly signed a disarmament framework on 31 July ¹. According to officials cited by the Times of Israel, Washington wants progress “regardless of who heads the government” in Israel, and Trump is reportedly pressing Netanyahu to move the plan forward after the elections ⁸.

Sources

1. Jerusalem Post, « One year after Trump's ceasefire, the next challenge in Gaza is still unclear », 11 octobre 2026, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-911292
2. OCHA (Territoire palestinien occupé), « Humanitarian Situation Report | 5 November 2026 », 6 novembre 2026, https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-5-november-2026
3. Times of Israel, direct du 4 novembre 2026 (entrées de 13 h 42 et 18 h 14), https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-4-2026/
4. UN News, « Gunfire damages tents at Rafah displacement site in Gaza, as aid teams prepare for winter storms », 4 novembre 2026, https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/11/1168740
5. UN News, « UN rights office warns of deepening displacement 'nightmare' in Gaza », 30 octobre 2026, https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168707
6. OCHA (Territoire palestinien occupé), « Humanitarian Situation Report: Heavy Rains in the Gaza Strip | 8 November 2026 », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-heavy-rains-gaza-strip-8-november-2026
7. Times of Israel (édition française), « Cinq morts, dont des enfants, dans l'effondrement d'une digue de sable à Gaza », 9 novembre 2026, https://fr.timesofisrael.com/cinq-morts-dont-des-enfants-dans-leffondrement-dune-digue-de-sable-a-gaza/
8. Times of Israel, direct du 9 novembre 2026 (« Trump reportedly pressing Netanyahu to advance Gaza plan in wake of election »), https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-9-2026/

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

1. On 5 November, OCHA cited Gaza’s Health Ministry, which reported 1,593 dead and 5,748 wounded since the ceasefire.
2. On 1 November, Israel suspended shipments from Egypt, citing smuggling. Community kitchens could go from 600,000 to 330,000 meals a day.
3. On 8 November, OCHA’s partners estimated that rain had destroyed over 6,000 shelters and damaged 17,400. The figures are preliminary.

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