More than three months after the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire, bombardment, drone surveillance, and gunfire continue across the Strip. For many residents, violence has become a daily reality rather than an exception. Schools and makeshift shelters have reportedly come under fire. In recent incidents in Jabalia, central Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Al-Bureij, and Al-Nuseirat, gunfire struck temporary school facilities and tent settlements, killing five people and critically injuring a first-grade girl. If even primary school children are not safe, the meaning of the term “ceasefire” is called into question. The issue is no longer when the war will end, but whether it meaningfully paused at all. When conditions on the ground remain defined by bloodshed and destruction, diplomatic declarations risk sounding detached from reality.
Cold, Siege, and Frozen Lives
Alongside ongoing violence, winter conditions have compounded the humanitarian crisis. Aid agencies report that access to warm clothing, blankets, adequate shelter, fuel, and medicines remains severely restricted due to the continuing blockade and damaged infrastructure. On January 12 in Deir al-Balah, a 7-day-old infant, Mahmoud al-Aqra, reportedly died from exposure to extreme cold. The same day, 2-month-old Muhammad Abu Harbeed died at Al-Rantisi Hospital under similarly dire conditions. With insufficient tents and shelter materials available, many displaced families have sought refuge in partially destroyed buildings. In Gaza City, heavy rain and strong winds caused one such structure to collapse, reportedly killing a 15-year-old girl beneath the rubble.
Medical facilities have also been affected. In Khan Younis, a drone strike reportedly hit an ambulance, resulting in the death of a wounded person being transported for treatment.
The Trump Peace Plan: Hope or a New Crisis?
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. President Donald Trump’s proposed 22-point peace initiative has led to the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The committee held its first meeting in Cairo on January 16. Comprising 15 Palestinian technocrats tasked with overseeing Gaza’s interim administration, it is headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority. Bulgarian diplomat NickolayMladenov has been appointed to supervise the committee under a newly formed “Board of Peace.”
Critics argue that the structure of the “Board of Peace” raises questions about neutrality and representation. President Trump, long viewed as strongly supportive of Israel, is positioned as head of the board. His past remarks regarding Gaza and previously reported proposals to redevelop the territory have fuelled scepticism among opponents. The appointment of Mladenov has also drawn scrutiny, with critics questioning whether regional representation could have been broadened.
The Game of Committees and Boards
Following the NCAG’s formation, two additional entities, the Founding Executive Board (FEB) and the Gaza Executive Board (GEB), were announced. According to official statements, the FEB will oversee diplomacy, reconstruction, and economic planning. Its reported members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The Gaza Executive Board is tasked with governance oversight and transparency. Reported members include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Türkiye’s foreign minister, Qatari diplomat Ali Tawhidi, Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, and UAE minister Reem Al Hashimy. Briefings suggest that Mladenov will play a central coordinating role across these bodies.
Reports indicate that President Trump has invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to join the Board of Peace. Israel has reportedly expressed opposition to roles for Türkiye and Qatar, and Israeli officials have voiced concerns in internal discussions.
Additionally, U.S. Central Command operations commander Major General Jasper Jeffers has been named to lead a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), tasked with maintaining order and coordinating humanitarian operations. Public briefings have not specified any mandate regarding the disarmament of Palestinian armed groups.
The “Board of Peace” charter is reportedly scheduled for signing in Davos on January 22, with invitations extended to international leaders.
The Price of Gaza on the Diplomatic Chessboard
Israeli media reports suggest the “Board of Peace” is designed to operate for three years and that participating member states may be required to contribute substantial financial commitments, reportedly up to one billion dollars each. It remains unclear how such funds would be allocated between administrative costs and reconstruction efforts. With vast portions of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed during the conflict, questions remain about funding mechanisms, accountability, and long-term governance.
The West Bank: Occupation, Arrests, and Oases of Hope
In the occupied West Bank, house demolitions, arrests, and clashes continue to be reported. In the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, demolition orders were issued for the camp’s only football ground. Residents say the field serves as a rare recreational outlet in an overcrowded environment and is notably used by girls’ football teams. For many families, its removal symbolises shrinking civic space alongside physical displacement.
Brutal Oppression and Resolute Patience
In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished the home of Fakhri Abu Dhab. Instead of relocating, the family erected a tent on the site. His wife told reporters: “So what if our house has been demolished? We will live on the rubble, but we will not leave our homeland.” Such statements reflect a broader determination among many Palestinians to remain despite repeated displacement.
Britain Suspends Contract with Israeli Company
International solidarity efforts have also produced developments abroad. The British government recently cancelled a two-million-pound contract with Israeli defence manufacturer Elbit Systems.This followed sustained protests by Palestine Action activists, including a hunger strike by Hiba Muratsi, Kamran Ahmed, and Umar Khalid. After the contract’s cancellation, the activists ended their protest.
In the United States, California congressional candidate Scott Wiener publicly stated that he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, marking a shift from his earlier staunchly pro-Israel position. His remarks illustrate how public discourse in parts of Western politics continues to evolve amid ongoing scrutiny of the conflict.
Elsewhere, political dissent related to normalisation with Israel remains constrained in parts of the Arab world. In Bahrain, a court sentenced political activist Ibrahim Sharif to six months in prison and fined him 200 Bahraini dinars for criticizing normalization policies.
Most Fundamental Condition for Peace
When, on the ground, flames are being fanned instead of extinguished, one cannot expect miracles from meetings, committees, and plans. The first and most fundamental condition for peace is a complete ceasefire and an end to the siege. Without this, every new structure will remain nothing more than a paper hope.
Amid all this, a placard held by a young girl in Gaza reading “We Are Still Here” may be the simplest and truest testimony: that despite devastation, people remain – and this insistence on remaining is itself the truest form of resistance.
[The writer is a veteran journalist based in Houston, USA.]