More than a month after the ceasefire was declared and all surviving Israeli captives were released, Israeli authorities are still carrying out acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Amnesty International said on Thursday.

According to the organization, "Israel" continues to deliberately impose conditions of life intended to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians, with no indication of a change in intent.

In a briefing published today, Amnesty offers a legal analysis of what it says is an ongoing genocide, reinforced by testimonies from residents, medical workers, and humanitarian teams describing the continuing humanitarian catastrophe across Gaza.

‘The ceasefire risks creating a dangerous illusion’

“The ceasefire risks creating a dangerous illusion that life in Gaza is returning to normal. But while Israeli authorities and forces have reduced the scale of their attacks and allowed limited amounts of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the world must not be fooled. Israel’s genocide is not over,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Amnesty emphasized that despite a decrease in bombing and slight improvements in aid access, the underlying conditions Palestinians are being forced to endure have not meaningfully changed, and there is no evidence "Israel’s" intent has shifted.

In December 2024, Amnesty International released a detailed report concluding that "Israel" was committing genocide in Gaza. The organization argued that Israeli occupation forces had carried out three acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza, including widespread killings, the infliction of serious physical or mental harm, and the deliberate creation of life-threatening conditions.

Today, Amnesty says those conditions persist, even if the scale of military operations has tapered somewhat.

‘No evidence Israel’s intent has changed’

“Israel has inflicted devastating harm on Palestinians in Gaza through its genocide, including two years of relentless bombardment and deliberate systematic starvation. So far, there is no indication that Israel is taking serious measures to reverse the deadly impact of its crimes and no evidence that its intent has changed. In fact, Israeli authorities are continuing their ruthless policies, restricting access to vital humanitarian aid and essential services, and deliberately imposing conditions calculated to physically destroy Palestinians in Gaza,” Callamard stressed.

Since the ceasefire took effect on October 9, at least 350 people, including 136 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks.

"Israel" also continues to severely restrict life-saving aid, including medical supplies and equipment needed to repair essential infrastructure. These actions, Amnesty notes, violate multiple International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders obligating "Israel" to ensure Palestinians have access to humanitarian supplies under the genocide case brought by South Africa.

In January 2024, the ICJ ruled that Palestinians’ rights under the Genocide Convention, specifically their right to survive, were “plausibly at risk.”

Heightened vulnerability and life-threatening conditions

Amnesty warns that the objective probability of Palestinians’ destruction remains high, given the population’s extreme vulnerability to disease after months of famine, a years-long blockade, and a total siege earlier in the year. The combination of inadequate food, water, shelter, clothing, and sanitation has created conditions leading to slow, preventable deaths.

Even with minor improvements in recent weeks, "Israel" is still blocking the entry of critical materials needed to restore infrastructure, remove unexploded ordnance, and clear contaminated rubble and sewage, hazards that pose severe, potentially irreversible health and environmental risks. "Israel" is also determining which organizations can distribute aid in Gaza, limiting relief efforts.

According to OCHA, households are now accessing two meals per day, an increase from one meal in July, but diets remain dangerously limited, with most families unable to obtain nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, or protein. Items like meat and eggs remain scarce or unaffordable.

Systematic displacement and denial of access to land

"Israel’s" forced displacement of Palestinians continues, with Israeli occupation forces now deployed across roughly 54–58% of the Gaza Strip. Palestinians’ access to the sea remains heavily restricted, and "Israel" has taken no steps to remedy the destruction of farmland and livestock over the past two years. In practical terms, Amnesty says, Palestinians have been left almost entirely cut off from independent means of survival.

“Palestinians remain held within less than half of the territory of Gaza, in the areas least capable of supporting life, with humanitarian aid still severely restricted. Still today, even after repeated warnings by international bodies, three sets of legally binding orders by the ICJ, and two ICJ advisory opinions, and despite Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, both as an occupying power and as a party to an armed conflict, Israel deliberately continues not to provide or allow necessary supplies to reach the civilian population in Gaza,” Callamard emphazied.

Lack of accountability and failure to investigate

Amnesty notes that Israeli authorities have not opened credible investigations into individuals suspected of genocide, nor have they sanctioned officials who made openly genocidal statements. The ceasefire itself was the product of international pressure, including from the United States, rather than a shift in "Israel’s" position.

“Israel must lift its inhumane blockade and ensure unfettered access to food, medicine, fuel, reconstruction, and repair materials. Israel must also make concerted efforts to repair critical infrastructure, restore essential services, provide adequate shelter for the displaced, and ensure they can return to their homes,” Callamard added.

Signs of weakening international pressure

According to Amnesty, global pressure on "Israel" appears to be softening. A recent UN resolution outlining "post-war governance for Gaza" contains no firm commitments to uphold human rights or ensure accountability. Germany recently cited the ceasefire when lifting a suspension on certain arms export licenses to "Israel" on November 24, and a scheduled vote on suspending the EU–"Israel" trade agreement was postponed.

“Now is not the time to ease pressure on the Israeli authorities. World leaders must demonstrate that they truly are committed to upholding their duty to prevent genocide and to ending the impunity that has fuelled decades of Israeli crimes across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They must halt all arms transfers to Israel until Israel’s crimes under international law cease. They must press Israeli authorities to grant human rights monitors and journalists access to Gaza to ensure transparent reporting on the impact of Israel’s actions on conditions in Gaza,” said Agnès Callamard.

“Israeli officials responsible for orchestrating, overseeing, and materially committing genocide remain in power. Failing to demonstrate that they or their government will be held accountable effectively gives them free rein to continue the genocide and commit further human rights violations in Gaza and in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” Callamard added.

Furthermore, Callamard warned that the international community “cannot afford to be complacent” and urged states to sustain pressure on “Israel” to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access, lift the unlawful blockade, and put an end to its ongoing genocidal policies.

“Governments must act decisively, and companies must immediately suspend any activities that contribute to or are directly linked with Israel’s genocide,” she concluded.