The ceasefire in Gaza was meant to provide relief after months of devastation, yet cracks in the agreement are already showing. Structured into three phases, the deal, initially brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, outlined clear commitments from both sides.
However, as BBC News reports, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, citing stalled negotiations with Hamas. The truce, once a fragile hope for de-escalation, now stands at risk as violations mount.
The three phases of the ceasefire
According to the Hindustan Times, Phase One of the agreement began on January 19, 2025, and was set to last six weeks. Israeli forces were expected to withdraw from populated areas, while hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, humanitarian aid was supposed to flow freely into Gaza, alleviating the worsening humanitarian crisis.
But the reality on the ground tells a different story as aid convoys remain blocked, despite international commitments. The decision to halt all humanitarian assistance, as reported by BBC News, has raised concerns that Israel is using starvation as leverage in ceasefire negotiations, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan. Hamas, in response, has called the blockade “cheap blackmail” and urged mediators to intervene.
For Palestinians, the situation is all too familiar. Dr Haider Eid, a founding member of BNC BDS and PACBI, recalls his experiences in Gaza in 2006, describing how he was unable to find milk for his children or medicine for himself. Nearly two decades later, the conditions remain unchanged.
Phase Two of the agreement hinges on the release of remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, and a transition from a temporary ceasefire to a permanent one. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reluctance to fully withdraw troops has complicated negotiations.
Hamas, while open to discussions, has made it clear that disarmament is not an option without an end to occupation.
Phase Three was envisioned as a step toward stability, focusing on rebuilding Gaza’s shattered infrastructure. But as Dr Haider Eid points out, “It will take more than seven years to remove the rubble in Gaza… Gaza has been completely destroyed.” With aid blockades in place and no clear commitment from Israel to allow reconstruction, the feasibility of this phase remains uncertain.
Moreover, the long-term governance of Gaza is still in question. Netanyahu and Donald Trump have hinted at a different Gaza post-conflict, raising fears of continued Israeli control over the region. The ambiguity surrounding this plan only fuels skepticism about whether this ceasefire is a pathway to peace or merely a temporary pause before further escalation.
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What happens next?
Despite international mediation efforts, the ceasefire faces growing instability. As negotiations continue, one question remains: will this agreement hold, or is it just another temporary pause?
Dr Haider Eid sums up the resilience of Palestinians: “Despite this, the Israelis have not been able to reoccupy the Gaza Strip. Young people have been defending the Gaza Strip… but until when?”
With aid restrictions, stalled negotiations, and no clear roadmap for Gaza’s future, the truce appears increasingly fragile. If history is any indication, what began as a ceasefire may soon be yet another conflict waiting to erupt.
To hear more from Dr Haider Eid, find him in conversation with Salaammedia here.
Picture: Bashar Taleb, AFP
