Gaza Herald_ The fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza faces renewed uncertainty as Israel and Hamas exchange accusations over delays in advancing to its second phase, following Israel’s killing of senior Hamas commander Raed Saad near Gaza City. Palestinian officials describe the assassination as a blatant violation of the truce, further undermining a ceasefire that continued Israeli military operations have already eroded.
Hamas confirmed Saad’s killing in an Israeli strike carried out while the ceasefire was technically in effect. In a video statement, Hamas’s Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya warned that Israel’s continued assassinations and attacks threaten the viability of the agreement and risk plunging the enclave back into full-scale war.
Hamas Accuses Israel of Systematic Breaches
Al-Hayya said Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire through airstrikes, ground attacks, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid. He stressed that these actions contradict the spirit and letter of the agreement brokered by the United States and mediated by regional actors.
He called on international guarantors, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump, to intervene and compel Israel to respect the ceasefire and honor its commitments, emphasizing that Palestinians in Gaza continue to suffer despite claims that the war has paused.
First Phase Never Fully Implemented
The ceasefire’s first phase, which began in October, was designed to halt hostilities, facilitate the exchange of captives and prisoners, allow for the recovery of remains, and ensure the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Only after these conditions were fulfilled was the agreement meant to transition into a second phase involving a full Israeli withdrawal, a formal end to the war, and arrangements for Gaza’s future governance.
However, Gaza authorities report that Israel has carried out nearly 800 attacks since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, killing hundreds of Palestinians and severely limiting humanitarian access. Aid agencies say restrictions on fuel, shelter materials, and medical supplies remain largely intact, leaving the population exposed to famine, disease, and winter storms.
Israel Uses Captive Remains to Delay Progress
Israel has argued that moving to the second phase depends on the return of the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli captive whose body has not yet been transferred. Palestinian analysts say this condition has become a political tool to delay withdrawal while maintaining military pressure on Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the assassination of Saad, accusing Hamas of attempting to rearm. He claimed the slain commander was overseeing efforts to rebuild military capabilities, allegations Hamas denies, pointing instead to Israel’s ongoing attacks as the clearest form of remilitarization.
Growing Tensions with Washington
Media reports suggest mounting tension between Netanyahu’s government and the Trump administration, which is said to be pressing Israel to move swiftly into the second phase of the agreement. Washington reportedly views prolonged delays as a threat to regional stability and the credibility of U.S. mediation.
Netanyahu acknowledged that the first phase was nearing its conclusion but insisted that Israel would determine its own course. He emphasized that decisions regarding military action and security would remain solely in Israeli hands, signaling resistance to external pressure.
Palestinians Pay the Price of Political Stalemate
While political leaders trade accusations, Palestinians in Gaza remain trapped in an unstable ceasefire marked by ongoing violence, mass displacement, and humanitarian collapse. With Israeli forces still operating inside Gaza and aid restrictions largely unchanged, the promise of the ceasefire has yet to materialize for those living under its shadow.
As long as assassinations continue, humanitarian access is restricted, and withdrawal is delayed, the second phase of the ceasefire remains out of reach—leaving Gaza suspended between war and peace, and its people bearing the consequences of a process undermined by force rather than safeguarded by law.
