Tensions Between Israel and Hamas Threaten Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire

Children and their families wait in Al Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, for the green light to begin their journey back home to Gaza City and the northern areas, after 15 months of displacement. Credit: UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 10 2025 (IPS)

On March 1, the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was scheduled to end. However, as Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, and Hamas declining to release more hostages until the second phase goes into effect, the long-term feasibility of the ceasefire agreement is uncertain. Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent inflammatory comments surrounding the conflict between the two parties might put further strain on the already fragile ceasefire agreement.

Following the implementation of the ceasefire in early January, Israel has allowed for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian situation has shown signs of considerable improvement within the past two months. On March 4, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a situation update which examined the improvements seen within displaced populations.

It is estimated that over 150,000 students returned to school in February, marking the first time that children in Gaza have had a formal education since schools closed down in October 2023. Approximately 7,000 teachers have been mobilized in 165 governmental schools across the enclave. Additionally, OCHA notes that at least 88 percent of these schools require significant reconstruction due to infrastructure damage from hostilities and housing displaced communities.

Aid personnel had also taken notes on the improving health conditions of thousands of Gazans in February. According to OCHA, approximately 602,795 children under the age of 10 had been given polio vaccines. This included 101,777 children in north Gaza, which has been the most difficult area for humanitarian aid to reach.

The 2025 vaccination campaign has been significantly more effective in securing herd immunity than the efforts in September and October of 2024. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 40,000 more children were reached during this round of vaccinations. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeus has said that the ceasefire “allowed health workers to reach more children than during previous vaccination rounds”.

On February 28, the World Food Programme (WFP) shared an analysis breaking down the hunger trends in Gaza in 2025. Within the first four weeks of the ceasefire, WFP had managed to deliver more than 30,000 metric tons of food, which is nearly double the monthly average for late 2024. Over 1 million people received food assistance.

“We are approaching full rations, proper calorie intake, and a complete food basket. Every WFP programme is running at scale – food parcels, wheat flour, hot meals, nutrition support,” said Antoine Renard, WFP’s Jerusalem-based Country Director for Palestine.

Bakeries, which have been a lifeline for food assistance in Gaza, have significantly increased their outputs following the ceasefire.25 bakeries are estimated to produce 150,000 bundles of flatbread per day, marking a five-fold increase from pre-ceasefire outputs. Additionally, more than 116,500 pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children have received nutritional supplements, tents, tarpaulins, and other essential items.

From March 2, Israel blocked humanitarian aid deliveries following Hamas refusing to extend the first phase of the ceasefire to release more Israeli hostages. Despite the initial improvements over the past two months, experts have expressed concern that the humanitarian situation in Gaza could worsen greatly if aid does flow in.

“The aid restrictions announced yesterday will severely compromise lifesaving operations for civilians. It is imperative that the ceasefire – a critical lifeline for children remains in place, and that aid is allowed to flow freely so we can continue to scale up the humanitarian response,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

The UN Food Security Sector (FSS) has confirmed that at least eighty community kitchens in Gaza will run out of food if aid blockages continue. WFP has also warned that it only has enough materials to keep kitchens and bakeries in Gaza open for two more weeks.

The UN, as well as mediators in Egypt and Qatar, have criticized Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid for being violations of the ceasefire agreement. Despite this, the U.S. has pushed for an extension of the first phase, which Israel supports.

On March 5, President Donald Trump issued a social media statement to X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing support for Israel and threatening the stability of the Gaza Strip.

“Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you…I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say… RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” said Trump.

This comes weeks after the president indicated interest in forcibly displacing all of the civilians of the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that Trump’s comments only put further strain on the delicate stability of the ceasefire.

“These threats complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupation not to implement its terms. Hamas has implemented what it was required to do in the first stage, while Israel is evading the second stage. Unfortunately, these positions by the United States strengthened the position of the Zionist right within the government and pushed for taking punitive steps, including closing the crossings in this manner and using the starvation policy against the people of the Gaza Strip,” Qassem said to reporters.

On March 4, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at the Extraordinary Arab League Summit, emphasizing the importance of the ceasefire and international humanitarian law as Gaza makes the transition to rebuilding.

“Ending the immediate crisis is not enough. We need a clear political framework that lays the foundation for Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction and lasting stability. That framework must be based on principles and respect for international law.
Israel’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed, but that should not be through long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza,” Guterres said.

IPS UN Bureau Report