As Benjamin Netanyahu proves his genocidal intent once again by calling to resume his offensive in Gaza, the fears of a continuation of the relentless Israeli massacre are ripe. For 15 months, the Israeli war machine brutally massacred Palestinians in Gaza indiscriminately; proving the Israeli far-right’s belief that there are no innocents in Gaza.

The most important factor that led to the agreement between parties was the change in the White House

After its failure to achieve what Netanyahu laid out as objectives of Israel’s onslaught in Gaza, and with the tireless efforts of the mediators, Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire deal in January 2025. But the most important factor that led to the agreement between parties was the change in the White House. Donald Trump’s ascension to the White House had made the deal possible as it was clearly communicated to the Israeli decision-makers by the new Trump administration that a deal was what the US wanted.

Therefore, after evading the agreement for months, Israel gave in and a ceasefire began. However, as soon as Israeli guns fell silent in Gaza, the Palestinians in the West Bank faced the brunt of Zionist expansionism. Citing no specific reasons, the Zionist regime has upped the ante against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, particularly in Jenin and Tulkarm. Not only the West Bank but even the people of Gaza have been subjected to intermittent firing and killing by the IDF, despite a enunciated ceasefire.

The Israeli actions beg an explanation; was there even a ceasefire in the first place?

The continuation of such brutal acts by Israel, along with violation of other ceasefire terms like the allowing of a certain amount of humanitarian aid in Gaza daily, have prompted a response from Hamas, where it had threatened to stop the exchange of captives until Israel abides by the agreement. It provided Netanyahu the perfect alibi to resume the genocide in Gaza. The mediators (Qatar, US, and Egypt) expressed fears for a breakdown of the ceasefire and rushed to salvage it. However, the Israeli actions beg an explanation; was there even a ceasefire in the first place?

The uselessness of such a ceasefire that does not prevent the killing of Palestinians cannot be overstated.

As soon as the ceasefire between Hamas (and other Palestinian armed groups) and Israel began on 19th January, Israeli forces launched a bloody military assault in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tactfully kept the Palestinians under its merciless torture by relenting in Gaza and turning the barrel towards the West Bank. Moreover, it is not only the occupied West Bank that has been hit. At least 118 Palestinians have been killed and 822 others injured in Gaza since the start of a ceasefire, in addition to the 46000 butchered until the ceasefire.

On 17th February, the Gaza-based news outlets reported air strikes by Israeli air force in the Nuseirat camp in Gaza. The Israeli carnage that killed more than a hundred despite the enactment of a ceasefire is indicative of the misery the Palestinians face. The uselessness of such a ceasefire that does not prevent the killing of Palestinians cannot be overstated.

Nevertheless, the three-phased ceasefire has been a sigh of relief for displaced Palestinians as they hope to return to their homes and at least bury their loved ones, lying under the rubble in the north. They had also hoped to get the badly needed tents and other necessities as humanitarian aid would enter the strip finally. Israeli forces had made it as hard as possible for the people of northern Gaza to cross through the Netazrim corridor and return to their homes, but in a display of matchless determination, the people had returned; projecting defiance like never seen in history.

It was the hope of the ceasefire transcending the first phase into the next two phases that had given some relief to the biblically pained Palestinians, but the mala fide intent of Israel and the frivolous proposition of displacing Palestinians from Gaza by Trump has swept away any hope they had. The misery for Palestinians seems to never end as their land is now seen as a real estate development opportunity by an eccentric American president, after being bombed by the brutal Zionist regime for months.

The ceasefire has proved to be a smokescreen for Israel to plan its next assault on the Palestinians with the American help

The rapidly changing scenarios after the announcement of the ceasefire with only a meager aid flowing in the strip have proved the ceasefire to be an illusion. It has been a smokescreen for Israel to plan its next assault on the Palestinians with American help. It was insisted by many critics of Israel in the beginning that the agreement was negotiated in bad faith by Israel with no intention of moving forward with phase two. Their conviction seems to be the truth as Israel hurtles towards resumption of its genocide with each move and comes up with lamest of excuses as the expiry of the first phase nears.

No metaphor could explain the agony of televised genocide in Gaza

There are hopes that the mediators will push Israel to negotiate the second phase, but the frivolity of the whole façade of ceasefire has been laid bare by the death of more than a hundred Palestinians in Gaza since its beginning. The resumption of Israeli bombardment will just wipe the people of Gaza off the map now, as they have been already battered enough that no metaphors can explain the tragedy. Therefore, the ceasefire needs to be implemented in true sense, so that the people of Gaza can stop burying their loved ones for some days at least.

The Israeli offensive in West Bank also needs to be factored in by the mediators as killing Palestinians in one part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories while there is a ceasefire in the other does not serve the purpose of peace in any way. Finally, no extent of bloodshed will prove enough for the Zionist regime and its enablers to stop the bloodbath on their own. The world needs to act in substantial terms by holding its politicians accountable for enabling Israel to carry on with its genocide. A lot needs to be done by the citizens of the world!

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.