Fate of Palestinians in Gaza remains uncertain as Board of Peace makes little progress
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- Israeli forces under the Oct. 10 ceasefire already control over half of Gaza and aim to hold 70%, with the territory's over two million Palestinians largely displaced amid daily strikes.
- Gaza's Health Ministry reports 73,066 total Palestinian deaths since the war began, including 1,053 killed since the Oct. 10 ceasefire — over 350 women and children — plus 3,400 wounded.
- The Trump-created Board of Peace, launched with billions in international pledges for Gaza's recovery, has publicly stalled over Hamas disarmament; Hamas hasn't outright rejected disarming but wants to retain some weapons and demands Israeli concessions.
- The Israel Democracy Institute poll found over 60% of Israelis think Netanyahu shouldn't run again, blaming pre-Oct. 7 security failures, the lack of a state inquiry, and exemptions for ultra-Orthodox governing partners.
- U.N. humanitarian officials report 17 of Gaza's hospitals remain non-functional and all border crossings stay tightly restricted, even as food security experts noted "notable improvements" after the ceasefire — a picture the ICRC's Nicolas von Arx calls "far, far" from normal.
Why it matters: With the Trump-chaired Board of Peace stalled on Hamas disarmament while Israel expands control to 70% of Gaza, 2 million Palestinians remain displaced under daily strikes — and Netanyahu, opposed by 60% of Israelis per a recent poll, pushes re-election over a war his public still wants accounted for.
