Gaza Winter: Ceasefire Stalls as Floods Displace Tens of Thousands
The Board of Peace warns that humanitarian gains are insufficient as the International Stabilization Force remains undeployed after delays tied to the Iran war and Israeli elections.
By Evelyn Adeyemi ·
The winter storms have arrived in Gaza, bringing severe flooding to a territory where 2 million civilians remain under Hamas control. It has been 1,131 days since the events of October 7, 2023, and the geopolitical landscape remains stagnant.
The Board of Peace, established under the US-backed October 2025 ceasefire plan, issued a statement on Monday confirming that flooding has harmed tens of thousands of people living in tents. The board noted that these residents were already enduring precarious conditions, exposed to cold and unsafe environments. While the board stated it has enabled humanitarian aid to enter the enclave, it warned that the gains are not enough and must be accelerated.
The board urged the Israeli government to authorize the entry of essential materials for temporary shelter and called on Hamas to lay down its arms. It argued that the time for assurances without implementation has passed, stating that civilians cannot afford continued inaction. The statement effectively concluded that Israel’s current response is insufficient.
Progress on the peace plan has stalled due to the start of the Iran war in February 2026 and subsequent Israeli elections. The plan originally envisioned the deployment of the International Stabilization Force in spring 2026, with around five countries committed to contributing personnel. Kosovo and Albania sent a small number of staff to assess deployment options, and the US supported a new logistics center near the border. However, the governing coalition in Israel delayed further steps, concerned about appearing soft on Hamas during the election cycle.
As of now, the IDF controls approximately 70 percent of Gaza, while Hamas holds the remaining 30 percent, including the central refugee camps where all civilians have been forced to move. The IDF has not moved to disarm the roughly 10,000 Hamas gunmen hiding among the civilian population. The board’s plan for a technocratic committee to run the enclave has not materialized, leaving the civilian population in a state of limbo.
The Board of Peace seeks to deploy the International Stabilization Force and rebuild parts of Gaza to demonstrate a viable future. Until these elements are in place, the civilians remain stuck in the area controlled by Hamas, facing the winter with limited shelter and minimal new aid.
