From October 7, 2023, to January 15, 2025, the Gaza Strip has endured relentless Israeli violations, defying every international law in plain sight of the world. The scale of destruction stands as a stark testament to the unchecked breach of global legal norms and the commission of international crimes with impunity—met with condemnation from some and backing from others. Even the rulings of the International Court of Justice have not been spared from Israeli disregard. The toll of 467 days of devastation will take years to mend, leaving behind scars not just on Gaza but on the conscience of humanity.
In this article, we shed light on the violations and crimes carried out by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip over 467 days, leading up to the ceasefire decision and Egypt’s stance on it.
The atrocities committed in the Gaza Strip have led to shifts on many fronts, particularly on the international stage. The Palestinian cause is, at its core, a struggle for liberation from occupation—one that cannot be resolved solely on Israel’s terms—it requires mutual agreement. Gaza has witnessed numerous crimes against humanity, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and civilians indiscriminately targeted through killings, arrests, displacement, and forced migration. The Israeli occupation forces have enforced collective punishment, carried out mass arbitrary arrests, and committed acts of premeditated murder. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 46,645 Palestinians have been killed, and 110,012 others have been injured, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Israeli occupation forces have committed numerous international crimes, including genocide, premeditated murder, and acts of revenge against civilians. Thousands of massacres have been carried out against children, women, and residents of Gaza, leaving behind countless martyrs. Genocide, by definition, involves the killing of individuals or subjecting a group to conditions designed to bring about its destruction—such as depriving them of food, medicine, and basic necessities. This is precisely what the occupying state is doing in Gaza by blocking humanitarian aid from reaching those in desperate need.
Beyond the widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, institutions, mosques, hospitals, universities, and schools, the devastation has consumed 70% of the Gaza Strip.
The conflict has also witnessed crimes of forced displacement and population transfer. A statement from UNRWA confirmed that the relentless bombing across the Gaza Strip has led to mass displacement, forcing an entire society into a state of constant upheaval. The occupation forces continue to drive people from their homes, only to push them into areas that are just as unsafe. This marks the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948, affecting over 2 million people—the entire population of Gaza.
From the very beginning, Egypt took a firm and unequivocal stance against any attempt to forcibly displace Gaza’s residents. The Egyptian state made it clear that it would not accept the elimination of the Palestinian cause or the forced displacement of Gazans, whether internally or into Sinai. The occupying state attempted to pressure Gaza’s population through a campaign of destruction, war crimes, and devastation, hoping to drive them into Egyptian territory. However, Egypt firmly rejected this, stating that such a move was a red line for its national security and reaffirming that any resolution to the Palestinian cause must be just—and would never come at Egypt’s expense.
On August 11, 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released its updated report on the events in Gaza since October 2023, emphasizing the need for justice in response to the grave violations of international law committed in the Strip. The report stated that these crimes were part of a widespread and systematic assault on the civilian population, qualifying them as crimes against humanity. Additionally, they were carried out with the intent to partially or entirely destroy a national group, meeting the criteria for genocide. The Israeli invasion of Gaza since October 7, 2023, stands as one of the most brutal and inhumane wars, constituting a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. In this conflict, human ingenuity was weaponized to maximize destruction, suffering, and devastation.
The report also put the United States, Israel’s primary ally, in a critical position before global public opinion for its role in the Gaza war and its full-scale support for Israel. The United States actively backed the Israeli occupation, not only by aiding its military aggression in Gaza but also by shielding it diplomatically at the United Nations. It repeatedly blocked Security Council resolutions in favor of Gaza, using its veto power more than six times—three of which were in direct opposition to the will of the international community, which had called for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access. This approach has severely impacted the peace process in the Middle East, creating further obstacles to international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
While the ceasefire agreement is significant, it came too late—an end to the aggression on Gaza could have been reached months earlier. Despite intensified mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire, the Israeli occupation state deliberately escalated its large-scale crimes, continuing to kill vast numbers of unarmed civilians. This serves as undeniable proof of Israel’s lack of political will to end the war and its intent to prolong the suffering of Palestinians. Meanwhile, the world remains paralyzed in the face of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, unable to bring it to an end.
This opens the door for the international community and the United Nations to take action by forming fact-finding committees and ensuring that those responsible for the crimes committed in Gaza face justice. Holding international criminals accountable for the devastation inflicted on civilians and the destruction of the Strip is a necessary step toward justice for the victims. Ultimately, humanitarian concerns must take precedence over military necessity, as international law exists to safeguard human life—at all times, in all places, and without exception.
467 Days of Diplomacy: Egypt’s Role in Securing the Ceasefire
Negotiating a truce is a highly difficult and complex process, especially in the case of the Gaza Strip, where reaching an agreement requires relentless diplomatic efforts. Unfortunately, the first truce, which began on November 24, 2023, was short-lived, lasting only a few days. Despite a prisoner exchange, a temporary ceasefire, and an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries, the truce quickly collapsed, highlighting the fragility of such agreements in the face of ongoing tensions.
Egypt was the first country in the world to put forward a comprehensive vision not only for achieving a truce but for resolving the Gaza crisis as a whole. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, Egypt’s approach was based on a phased strategy, proposing a three-stage solution with concrete steps at each phase. These included halting hostilities, facilitating prisoner exchanges, increasing humanitarian aid, and ultimately beginning reconstruction. Given that the Gaza Strip falls within Egypt’s immediate national security sphere, Egypt’s efforts have been marked by seriousness and continuous engagement. From the very first day of the aggression, Egypt has been active on all diplomatic fronts to end this crisis. A testament to these efforts was the Cairo International Peace Conference, held on October 21, 2023—just two weeks after the war began—which brought together representatives from 34 countries. During the conference, Egypt presented a comprehensive roadmap for resolving both the Gaza crisis and the broader Palestinian cause.
The ceasefire agreement, as outlined in its various stages, is expected to yield significant outcomes for both sides. First, it will bring about a permanent end to hostilities, putting an end to a devastating war that has targeted both life and land. Second, it entails a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Third, it paves the way for the completion of a prisoner exchange deal, under which all Israeli captives—whether alive or deceased—will be released in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from its jails. Additionally, the agreement aims to bring a final and lasting end to the war, which has left Gaza in the grip of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. It also includes provisions for the return of displaced northern residents to their homes despite the widespread destruction, the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid across the Strip.
Regardless of the devastation that has unfolded, achieving a truce remains a positive step forward. The key now is for Israel to fully commit to the terms of the agreement and implement each stage precisely—particularly the final withdrawal from Gaza—while refraining from any actions that could reignite the conflict. The responsibility for ensuring compliance lies with the guarantor countries—Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The agreement has further highlighted the indispensable roles of Egypt and Qatar in conflict mediation, strengthening their positions as key regional negotiators.
At this stage, navigating three successive and essential tracks will be vital to maintaining stability and progress. The first track focuses on the precise and timely implementation of the truce agreement in all three of its stages. The second track addresses the post-war reality in Gaza, ensuring political, economic, and security stability, alongside the urgent need for reconstruction. The third track is centered on reviving the political process and laying the groundwork for a serious peace initiative that leads to a two-state solution. This requires meaningful negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, ultimately resulting in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state coexisting in security, peace, and stability alongside Israel. Without this permanent resolution, future conflicts remain inevitable. Therefore, regional and international efforts must be mobilized to prevent the recurrence of war, as history has repeatedly demonstrated the fragility of long-term commitments, casting doubt on the sustainability of any ceasefire.
Finally, we hope that the ceasefire agreement marks the beginning of a genuine path toward lasting peace, a two-state solution, and the establishment of the State of Palestine. The Palestinian people must be granted the peace and security they deserve, while the international community must shoulder its responsibility in ensuring a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Such a peace must be rooted in justice and equality, leading to a lasting and sustainable resolution—one that is not dictated by a policy of imposed realities, as peace built on coercion is never enduring. The evolving global dynamics make it imperative for all stakeholders to actively prevent further escalation, as merely becoming accustomed to conflict does not eliminate the risk of its resurgence.
