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Families endure harsh conditions amid stalled reconstruction
A fragile ceasefire has left Gaza's displaced population trapped in makeshift shelters as winter storms deepen their suffering. Ghadir al-Adham, living in a tent with her husband and six children in Gaza City, described their plight as one of humiliation. "We want caravans. We want our homes rebuilt. We long for concrete to keep us warm," she told the BBC. "Every day I sit and cry for my children."
Ceasefire leaves Gaza in limbo
Two months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect, Gaza remains fractured under the first phase of Donald Trump's peace plan. The territory is split between warring factions, with reconstruction efforts frozen and hundreds of thousands still displaced. Heavy rains have flooded camps, collapsing buildings and placing over 800,000 Gazans at risk of flooding, according to the UN.
Hostage dispute blocks progress
The next phase of the peace deal-including plans for new housing and governance-remains stalled over the fate of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer captured by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Hamas must return all hostages, dead or alive, before negotiations advance.
Gvili's parents, Talik and Itzik, were informed last year that their son had not survived. Yet searches of Gaza's rubble have yielded no trace of him. "They stole our kid," Talik said. "They know where he is. They're playing with us." Hamas denies the allegations, accusing Israel of delaying the agreement.
Political pressures delay concessions
Analysts warn that both sides are reluctant to proceed. Retired Israeli General Israel Ziv, former head of military operations, said Hamas fears losing control, while Israel's leadership hesitates to justify withdrawals to its base. "Hamas doesn't want to lose control, and the Israeli side for political reasons also prefers to stay in Gaza," he told the BBC. "Time is running out."
Disarming Hamas is the first major hurdle. Without progress, foreign nations are unlikely to commit troops or fund reconstruction in Hamas-held areas. Netanyahu has expressed skepticism about an international force's ability to secure Gaza, suggesting Israel may need to retain a role.
Gaza's divided future
The ceasefire has drawn a "yellow line" demarcating Israeli-controlled zones, which military officials have called a "new border line." Reports suggest Israel is preparing temporary housing in Rafah for Gazans willing to relocate to Israeli-held areas-if they submit to security checks. Critics see this as an attempt to isolate Hamas, though many Gazans refuse to live under Israeli control.
Trump, who pushed the ceasefire through the UN Security Council, plans to announce a "Board of Peace for Gaza" early next year. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is set to meet Trump in Florida to discuss key issues, including Hamas's disarmament. Without progress, Gaza risks deeper fragmentation, with no clear path to recovery.
