The ceasefire in Gaza teeters on the brink as Benjamin Netanyahu’s government appears to be reverting to pre-agreement positions, according to analysts. While Israeli forces continue bombardment and destruction in the Strip, allegedly targeting resistance infrastructure or responding to attacks, Washington has not taken a firm stance to ensure Tel Aviv adheres to the agreement.
Netanyahu, already facing scrutiny from the International Criminal Court, has expressed Israel’s dwindling patience with alleged Hamas violations. He insists that the remaining captives be released and Hamas be disarmed with an “iron fist.”
Further fueling concerns, Netanyahu has formed a new, smaller security cabinet to oversee the second phase of the agreement. This council includes hardliners such as Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, all staunch opponents of a lasting ceasefire.
Following the formation of this council, Sa’ar stated that Israel had given President Trump’s Gaza peace plan a genuine chance through diplomacy. He warned that failure to continue implementing the agreement would “allow Israel to move militarily with far greater international legitimacy.”
Hamas, in turn, has called on mediators and guarantors, particularly the United States, to compel Israel to cease its violations. Simultaneously, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer has reportedly requested the U.S. to grant Israel “greater freedom of action in the Strip, even during the implementation of the agreement’s second phase.”
These moves by Israel highlight the precarious situation in Gaza and the fragility of the peace plan. Some analysts suggest Hamas is responsible for the Israeli actions due to ongoing military skirmishes and the group’s refusal to disarm, a stance they have publicly affirmed.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation.
