Phase two cannot succeed so long as Israel is granted carte blanche to continue committing war crimes under the guise of a ceasefire [WASHINGTON D.C., JANUARY 14, 2026] — Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action) cautiously welcomes Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s announcement today launching Phase Two of the Gaza ceasefire plan, which envisions the establishment of a “transitional technocratic Palestinian administration” in Gaza and would supposedly trigger reconstruction after more than two years of Israel’s devastating and brutal war on the Strip. At the same time, we must also reiterate Israel’s deliberate and systematic efforts to undermine the ceasefire, enabled by continued U.S. complicity. The Trump administration’s demand that Palestinians alone comply with the agreement’s twenty points, despite their consistent adherence for months, while ignoring Israel’s routine violations, calls into question the Trump administration’s credibility and its commitment to the agreement it claims to uphold. It is inaccurate and dishonest for Witkoff to claim that Phase One “delivered historic humanitarian aid” to Gaza or that it “maintained the ceasefire.” From the implementation of the ceasefire on October 10, 2025, through January 10 of this year, human rights organizations in Gaza documented 1,238 Israeli violations, an average of 13.2 violations per day. These violations included killings and injuries, strikes, home demolitions, live fire, military incursions, and 50 arrests. As a result, at least 460 Palestinians have been killed since the agreement took effect, 52.1% of all fatalities being children (161), women (61), and the elderly (17). Data further shows that 96.9% of those killed were targeted inside areas supposedly under de-escalation, in clear violation of the principle of civilian protection under international humanitarian law. Additionally, 1,246 injuries have been recorded, including 728 injuries to children, women, and elderly people, with civilians constituting 99.2% of all injuries. All injuries occurred within areas designated for the ceasefire, reinforcing that Israel is pursuing a deliberate and militarily unjustifiable shoot-to-kill/harm policy. On aid delivery, Israel is meeting less than half of its obligation, allowing an average of only 260 trucks per day, 43.3% of the agreed 600. Fuel trucks have not exceeded 12.5% of total entries, directly crippling essential sectors, especially health, water, and energy. In recent weeks, at least 24 Palestinians, including children and infants, have died from the severe cold. Over 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are left exposed to rain and freezing temperatures, forced to survive in flimsy, flood-prone tents, as Israel blocks the entry of mobile homes into Gaza and the international community, especially Washington, refuses to exert meaningful pressure. Phase two of the so-called peace deal cannot succeed so long as Israel is granted carte blanche to continue committing war crimes under the guise of a ceasefire. AJP Action calls on the United States to respect the Palestinian people’s inherent, inalienable, and non‑negotiable right to self‑determination; to compel Israel to halt its aggression and fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip; to allow the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid, mobile homes, fuel, and medicine; to ensure that reconstruction begins immediately and without conditions; to grant full political authority to the transitional technocratic Palestinian administration; and to prevent the so‑called “Peace Council” from becoming a trusteeship imposed on the Palestinian people. In solidarity, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action |
