Truce in tatters

The latest Israeli strikes on Gaza, which have killed over 400 people, mark the near-total collapse of a fragile ceasefire that was supposed to ease hostilities. Instead, the region has been plunged back into turmoil, with civilians once again paying the highest price. Israel defends its renewed assault as a necessary move to free hostages still held by Hamas. Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group claims it adhered to the truce terms and was ready for negotiations. The hostages remain caught in a diplomatic deadlock, their fate overshadowed by escalating violence.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is now at catastrophic levels. Hospitals are overwhelmed, aid remains blocked and every airstrike only fuels further devastation. The destruction has spread beyond military targets, levelling homes, schools and entire communities. Israel’s offensive not only intensifies suffering in Gaza but also risks igniting a broader regional conflict, drawing in actors like Iran, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis. A single miscalculation could escalate the war, dragging the West Asian region into deeper instability.

International responses have been predictably weak. The UN has condemned the attacks and Egypt has called for restraint, but these appeals have done little to halt the bloodshed. The US, Israel’s key ally, must push harder for immediate de-escalation rather than merely reiterating its support for Israel’s right to self-defence. Without meaningful international intervention, the humanitarian toll will only worsen. At its core, this war is about survival and security. Israel insists Hamas must be dismantled for long-term peace, but at what cost? Every strike destroys not just infrastructure but also the very possibility of coexistence. The ceasefire was never a permanent solution, but its collapse reveals a grim truth: without a serious political roadmap, this cycle of violence will only repeat.