The term 'ceasefire' should be self-evident, yet Israel's strikes have killed scores in Lebanon since agreeing a truce with Hezbollah under US pressure. Both sides have traded fire, with a strike on Beirut on Wednesday. Benjamin Netanyahu's government would welcome resuming war with Iran but fears Donald Trump's wrath as he seeks an exit from the conflict.
Gaza: A De-escalation, Not a Ceasefire
In Gaza, the Israeli military has killed over 800 people since the October truce, striking almost daily. This is not a true ceasefire but a de-escalation, however necessary. Lethal attacks on an engineer and drivers transporting water have intensified the water crisis, fueling infectious diseases. Médecins Sans Frontières calls the weaponisation of water supplies a campaign of collective punishment. Never mind the estimated $70bn cost of reconstruction; homes are still being flattened. Families in tents face a rat infestation. Essential medicines are unavailable. Hospitals and schools lie in ruins. An analysis of the war's impact on education described children feeling 'like the living dead'.
Failed Commitments and Expanding Control
Israel agreed to end attacks, massively increase aid, and withdraw forces to within a 'yellow line'—still accounting for 53% of the territory. Yet strikes continue, aid flows yo-yo, and essential items are blocked as 'dual use'. The military has expanded its zone of control substantially, including an unmarked surrounding area where Palestinians are considered legitimate targets. Israel's Army Radio reports that military leaders are pushing to resume the war.
Far from pressing Netanyahu to uphold phase one commitments, the US-led Board of Peace has made clear it will not hold Israel to them unless Hamas agrees to the phase two disarmament framework. A document obtained by the Times of Israel reveals that a letter from high representative Nickolay Mladenov and senior US official Aryeh Lightstone states that if Hamas does not accept the plans, Israel will not be expected to stop attacks or allow aid. Israeli support for anti-Hamas militias in Gaza is hardly conducive to disarmament.
Global Inaction and Europe's Leverage
The world has turned away from the horrors of the genocidal war unleashed after the Hamas atrocities of 7 October 2023. There is a chilling contrast between Israel's swift punishment of soldiers who disrespected statues of Jesus in Lebanon and the lack of accountability when Palestinians are abused, killed, or disappear. Where is the outrage?
Mr. Trump is fixated on Iran and its impact on his domestic support. He is unlikely to act on Gaza unless a renewed Israeli offensive could derail his attempts to resolve the conflict with Tehran. But Europe has real leverage—yet it has failed to use it. As anger grows, governments must translate condemnation into action. Trade agreements should not survive the continued flouting of Israel's commitments, never mind the threat of a return to an unchecked campaign of annihilation.
