KEY POINTS
- Qatar’s Emir warns that Israel has turned Gaza into “an area unfit for human life.”
- Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 21 new deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total to 68,229.
- US Vice President arrives in Israel to reinforce Washington’s efforts to stabilise the truce.
- Egypt’s intelligence chief to visit Israel for talks on consolidating the ceasefire and easing aid delivery.
- WFP said only 26 of 145 planned food distribution points in Gaza are operational.
DOHA/GAZA CITY: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Tuesday accused Israel of repeatedly breaching the fragile Gaza ceasefire, warning that the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave was worsening despite the US-brokered truce that took effect on October 10.
“We reiterate our condemnation of all Israeli violations and practices in Palestine, particularly the transformation of the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human life and the continued violation of the ceasefire,” Sheikh Tamim said in an address to the Shura Council, Qatar’s legislative body.
Qatar, alongside Turkiye and Egypt, has played a key mediating role in efforts to sustain the truce between Israel and Hamas.
The Emir’s remarks came after a new round of Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 Palestinians over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which said the death toll in the Palestinian territory since October 2023 had climbed to 68,229, with 170,369 wounded.
US Vice President in Israel to stabilise truce
US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to reinforce Washington’s efforts to stabilise the ceasefire amid increasing Israeli violations and rising casualties.
“Welcome to Israel, Vice President Vance,” Israel’s foreign ministry said on social media, sharing photos of Vance and his wife arriving in Tel Aviv.
Welcome to Israel, Vice President Vance @VP . 🇮🇱🤝🇺🇸
Together, the 🇮🇱Promised Land & The 🇺🇸Land of the Free, can secure a better future, including the release of the remaining 15 🎗️ hostages. pic.twitter.com/m7uEER4Xd9
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 21, 2025
According to Israeli media, Vance is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday and hold talks with US envoys and military experts monitoring the ceasefire.
His visit follows Monday’s meetings in Jerusalem between Netanyahu, US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, and presidential adviser Jared Kushner aimed at salvaging the truce.
Egypt’s intelligence chief heads to Israel
Egypt’s state-affiliated al-Qahera News reported that the head of Egypt’s intelligence service would travel to Israel on Tuesday to meet US envoy Witkoff and Israeli officials.
The talks are expected to focus on “consolidating the Gaza ceasefire” and resolving obstacles to aid delivery under President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
Aid deliveries far below targets
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday that aid deliveries into Gaza remain critically insufficient.
Abeer Etefa, WFP’s Middle East spokeswoman, told reporters in Geneva that only 26 food distribution points were operational in Gaza — far short of the agency’s target of 145.
“People are showing up in large numbers,” she said, adding that only the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings were open.
“Sustaining the ceasefire is vital; really it’s the only way we can save lives and push back on famine in northern Gaza,” she said.
Since the truce began, 530 WFP trucks carrying 6,700 tonnes of food have entered the Palestinian enclave — enough for about half a million people for two weeks.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, just 986 aid trucks have entered since the ceasefire took effect — far below the 6,600 trucks promised.
The office accused Israel of pursuing a “policy of strangulation, starvation and humanitarian blackmail.”
French President Emmanuel Macron urged the immediate reopening of humanitarian routes into Gaza, warning that the situation remained “very fragile.”
“We wish to remain committed, along with our European, Arab and US partners, to immediately obtain – and this is a matter of absolute urgency – the reopening of humanitarian sites and routes so that aid, food and basic necessities can be brought to the population,” Macron said during a press conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Trump warns Hamas to honour deal
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would give Hamas a chance to uphold the ceasefire but warned the Palestinian movement would be “eradicated” if it failed to do so.
“We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave,” Trump said at the White House while hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“And if they’re not, we’re going to go and eradicate them. They’ll be eradicated, and they know that.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset that Israel had dropped 153 tonnes of bombs in Gaza on Sunday, claiming it was in response to ceasefire breaches by Hamas.
“One of our hands holds a weapon, the other is stretched out for peace,” Netanyahu said. “You make peace with the strong, not the weak. Today, Israel is stronger than ever before.”
However, Gaza officials accused Israel of “acting above the agreement and above international law,” warning that continued strikes risked collapsing the truce.
UN urges restraint
The United Nations expressed concern over the renewed Israeli violence. “We urge all parties to honour their commitments to ensure the protection of civilians and avoid any actions that could lead to a renewal of hostilities and undermine humanitarian operations,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in New York.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Netanyahu and the visiting US envoys discussed the next phase of Trump’s peace plan, including the creation of a multinational force, Israel’s military withdrawal from Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas.
In Cairo, Hamas’ leader Khalil al-Hayya said the Palestinian group was fulfilling its commitments under the truce, including the return of hostage bodies.
“Let their bodies return to their families, and let the bodies of our martyrs return to their families to be buried in dignity,” he told Egyptian television.
Despite the fragile calm, violence continued along Gaza’s “yellow line” buffer zone. Israel’s Kan Radio reported that troops shot dead a man attempting to cross into Israeli-held territory.
