The Ceasefire That Wasn’t: Israel’s Permanent War on Gaza
The early October Gaza deal, mislabeled a “peace agreement,” was merely a prisoner exchange and brief ceasefire. Hamas released remaining Israeli hostages amid Gaza’s two-year slaughter and starvation, easing Netanyahu’s domestic opposition and allowing the IDF a respite before resuming operations.
Yet, less than a month later, the truce unravels, with Israel launching deadly airstrikes—killing 200 Gazans, including 104 in one wave—citing a Rafah shooting it attributes to Hamas, despite denials and a disproportionate 100:1 kill ratio.Israel pockets hostages without concessions on Palestinian rights, maintaining strike capabilities and occupying over half the Strip behind a new “yellow line.”
Fortifications and infrastructure on its side signal permanent entrenchment, splitting Gaza into a controlled, reconstructible zone versus a crowded, miserable enclave for most survivors—echoing post-2005 withdrawal narratives blaming Hamas governance. Right-wing extremists in Netanyahu’s coalition push for endless war, while Trump threatens only Hamas, ignoring Israel’s ceasefire violations (e.g., March’s breach).Fundamental issues—Israel’s territorial expansion and denial of self-determination—remain unaddressed.
Trump’s 20-point plan stalls, with Arab states resisting a security force that would abet Israel’s aims. Without it, Israeli “enforcement” persists, turning Gaza into a halved open-air prison. Periodic bombings, akin to “mowing the grass,” ensure grim suffering and elusive true peace.
