As global attention was drawn to Donald Trump’s trade conflicts, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza was quietly disintegrating. The truce between Israel and Hamas has now collapsed, leading to renewed violence. After a brief period of calm, Israeli airstrikes have resumed, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The greatest burden falls on Palestinian civilians, many of whom are either critical of Hamas or too young to hold political views.
I received the news from Asmahan Abdalraheem, a young Palestinian accounting graduate living in a tent city in Khan Younis. She texted me at 2:22 a.m. Gaza time, saying, "The war is back again now," accompanied by broken-heart emojis. Shortly after, the Israeli Defence Forces issued a Telegram alert about their ongoing strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza.
As the conflict escalates, injured Palestinians, including women and children, are being treated at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the airstrikes resumed due to Hamas' refusal to release hostages and reject proposals from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and other mediators. Although Netanyahu's office didn’t formally declare the ceasefire over, the situation speaks for itself. Over 300 fatalities have been reported since the airstrikes recommenced, marking the deadliest period since the ceasefire began on January 19.
While the world focused on Trump's trade issues and the Ukraine ceasefire, the Gaza truce was unraveling. Jonathan Conricus, a former spokesman for the Israeli military, had predicted this outcome, noting that Israel would soon impose a siege on Gaza's essential supplies. This prediction came true as Israel cut off food and energy supplies before resuming airstrikes.
The breakdown of the ceasefire was inevitable due to the flawed agreement. Initially, Hamas agreed to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a temporary halt to fighting. However, with each release, the deal weakened. Hamas has little incentive to release all hostages, as they serve as leverage over Israel. So far, 33 hostages have been freed, with 24 believed to remain in Gaza.
Netanyahu aimed to secure as many hostages as possible while avoiding difficult questions about the ceasefire's future stages. The second phase was supposed to establish a permanent truce and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by reconstruction efforts. However, no significant progress has been made.
Despite Netanyahu's insistence on removing Hamas from power, he has not outlined a strategy to achieve this. Although Hamas has suffered losses, it remains a formidable force, reportedly rebuilding its ranks to 25,000 fighters. Israeli forces have repeatedly captured and withdrawn from key Gazan cities, only to return as Hamas regroups.
Netanyahu's refusal to involve the Palestinian Authority, a more moderate group governing parts of the West Bank, undermines efforts for a two-state solution and inadvertently strengthens Hamas' hold on Gaza. By reigniting the conflict, Netanyahu hopes to weaken Hamas and secure more hostage releases. However, the absence of a clear political plan for post-war Gaza remains a significant issue.