Gaza casualties rise despite ceasefire as Dutch officials call for sanctions

More than 900 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip this year despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, following a 20-point peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the total death toll has risen to 1,300, including 301 children.

Data indicates that lethal attacks have continued following the ceasefire, with monthly fatalities exceeding 100 between April and August. The highest monthly figure this year was recorded in July, with 152 deaths reported. While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dispute these figures, the United Nations considers the Ministry of Health's data reliable.

In response to the ongoing situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, over 230 former Dutch officials—including former ministers, ambassadors, and diplomats—have called on the Netherlands to implement stricter measures against Israel. The group is urging a comprehensive arms embargo and the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, arguing that previous measures have been insufficient.