Ceasefire expires, Israel blocks all aid to Gaza

Palestinians live amid the rubble in the Beni Suheyla region, east of the city of Khan Younis, Gaza on February 24, 2025 (Ashraf Amra – Anadolu Agency)

Compilation of news reports – IAK staff

Palestinian medics and rescue teams recovered 23 more bodies from the rubble in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The Israeli army has killed 16 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2025, despite them “posing no real threat to the soldiers,” an international human rights organization said.

“The failure to hold Israeli soldiers accountable for their violations against Palestinians has effectively given them the green light to continue their actions,” Ayed Abu Eqtaish, the accountability program director of the Defense for Children International, told Anadolu.

BREAKING: Israel halts humanitarian aid to Gaza as 1st phase of ceasefire deal expires

The Israeli government halted the entry of humanitarian aid into the war-torn Gaza Strip on Sunday, just hours after the expiry of the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed that the aid was stopped over Palestinian group Hamas’ refusal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

“As of this morning, entry of all goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted,” the office said in a statement.

“If Hamas persists in its refusal, there will be additional consequences,” it added without providing any further details.

Israeli Channel 14 said the decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza was coordinated with the US.

NOTE: While Israel is framing this halt in aid as a result of Hamas’ intransigence, in reality, Israel is refusing to abide by the agreement it made in January – to enter Phase Two. In fact, according to Israeli news site Ha’aretz, “as far as Netanyahu is concerned, there is no second stage.”

Israel’s refusal to stick to the ceasefire agreement is another in a long line of violations since the agreement came into effect on January 19. Gaza officials estimate over 260 breaches, including killing at least 132 Palestinians, withholding aid – food, medical, and shelter – from entering Gaza, preventing severely injured people to leave Gaza for medical care, refusing to allow heavy equipment into the Strip for clearing of rubble and retrieval of remains, and allowing Palestinians to return to their homes in a timely way.

Israel has accused Hamas of violating the deal with delays in providing the names of hostages.

Before Israel's war on Gaza, about 500 truckloads of aid came into Gaza every day. During the war, Israel severely restricted aid most of the time. During the 6-week ceasefire, Israel agreed to allow at least 600 trucks per day, plus hundreds of thousands of tents and temporary shelters. Most of this has not happened. — Before Israel’s war on Gaza, about 500 truckloads of aid came into Gaza every day. During the war, Israel severely restricted aid most of the time. During the 6-week ceasefire, Israel agreed to allow at least 600 trucks per day, plus hundreds of thousands of tents and temporary shelters. Most of this has not happened. (WHO)

Israel agrees to US plan for temporary ceasefire in Gaza

Israel has agreed to adopt a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, the prime minister’s office has announced.

“On the first day of the plan, half of the living and deceased hostages will be released,” it said, adding that the remaining captives would be freed “if an agreement on a permanent ceasefire is reached.”

The news has come as the first phase of the ceasefire was set to expire on the first day of Ramadan (Saturday night).

Netanyahu’s office said Hamas has so far refused the proposal, but the Palestinian group has not yet issued a statement on it.

The temporary ceasefire would last for the Ramadan and Passover periods.

Palestinians perform the first Tarawih prayer of Ramadan on the ruins of Al-Lebbani Mosque, which was destroyed in Israeli attacks, in Khan Younis, Gaza, on February 28, 2025. (Abed Rahim Khatib - Anadolu Agency)

Israeli army preparing to resume fighting in Gaza if no agreement reached to extend ceasefire: Report

The Israeli army is preparing to resume the war in the Gaza Strip if no agreement is reached to extend a ceasefire, the Israeli broadcasting authority reported Saturday.

“Achieving calm in Gaza requires an active agreement; otherwise, the only two options are the release of prisoners or war,” it said, citing a senior Israeli security source.

The broadcaster also cited sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he is not interested in moving to the second stage of the prisoner exchange deal.

Israeli Channel 13, however, citing unnamed Israeli officials, reported that “Netanyahu is leaning toward extending the ceasefire for several more days before the potential return to fighting in Gaza.”

Another security source warned that if fighting resumes, it will be “more intense than before,” especially given the green light reportedly granted by US President Donald Trump to Israel, without further details.

The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, reaffirmed Friday its commitment to implementing all provisions of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement as the first phase concludes.

The first phase of the ceasefire is set to conclude late Saturday. The second phase was supposed to begin on day 16 of the agreement, Feb. 3, but Netanyahu blocked the process, seeking to extend the first phase to secure the release of more Israeli captives from Gaza.

Under the agreed ceasefire, the second phase of the truce was intended to see the release of the remaining 59 captives, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a final end to the war.

RELATED: Israeli government approves call-up of 400,000 reserve soldiers amid uncertainty over Gaza ceasefire

Beit Lahiya, Gaza on February 21, 2025. (Ali Jadallah – Anadolu Agency)

1 in 4 children in Lebanon out of school due to Israel war

One in four children in Lebanon are currently unable to attend school as the country continues to deal with the fallout from Israel’s devastating war against Hezbollah and a crippling economic crisis.

In total, more than half a million children are out of school, even weeks into the ceasefire that came into effect in November.

The figures come from a Unicef survey conducted in January 2025 to assess the impact of the war on the country’s children.

More than 310 Lebanese children were killed in the violence, and more than 1,500 were wounded.

Many schools were destroyed or heavily damaged during the war, and hundreds were used as shelters for thousands of internally displaced people.

Israel's attack on Lebanon killed 310 children and wounded more than 1,500 — Israel’s attack on Lebanon killed 310 children and wounded more than 1,500 (Getty)

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IMEMC Daily Reports

STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – MARCH 1, 2025 (ongoing count):

At least 49,262 Palestinians killed, 119,455 injured – including:
at least 48,339 killed in Gaza (~14,550 children)
at least 923 killed in the West Bank (~186 children)
at least 111,753 injured in Gaza
at least 7,702 injured in the West Bank

WAR STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 (Hamas attack) – JANUARY 22, 2025 (Ceasefire):

Palestinian death toll from October 7, 2023 – January 19, 2025: at least 48,143 – including at least 47,283 in Gaza (~20,600 children), and 916 in the West Bank (~183 children). Palestinian injuries: at least 118,472 – including at least 111,629 in Gaza, and 7,000 in the West Bank.

Thousands of those killed in Gaza have yet to be identified, and an estimated 11,000 more are still buried under rubble.

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – January 19, 2025: ~1,616 (or 1,590) – including ~1,139 on October 7, 2023 (~36 children), 436 (or 405) military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza, 46 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel.

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers. Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

Ceasefire expires, Israel blocks all aid to Gaza – back to war, or last-minute deal?