Breaking Bonds: Did Israel Ever Plan to Honour the Truce?

Israel and Hamas’ U.S.-brokered truce faces early collapse as airstrikes, aid suspensions, and mistrust threaten the fragile ceasefire (image source)

Tel Aviv/Gaza — Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on October 9, 2025, marking the most significant diplomatic breakthrough after two years of devastating conflict that reshaped the region.

The agreement promised an immediate halt to fighting, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces to a demarcated “Yellow Line,” and the release of hostages in exchange for Israeli concessions. Under the deal, Hamas was required to release all living hostages and provide information on deceased captives within 72 hours of Israel’s troop pullback. In return, Israel agreed to allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza — a move that was expected to reopen key crossings after months of isolation and severe shortages.

Ceasefire Tested Within Days

Violations emerged almost immediately. Two Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed in an ambush, prompting Israeli airstrikes across Gaza that, according to Palestinian officials, killed 26 people — including civilians sheltering in homes and schools.

Israeli commanders described the operation as retaliation for a “blatant breach” by Hamas, but humanitarian agencies condemned the strikes as a collapse of ceasefire discipline. In response, Israel suspended all aid deliveries, effectively freezing the truce’s humanitarian provisions.

Global Reactions and U.S. Pressure

U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the truce, insisted that the agreement “remained in place,” urging both parties to “cool tensions” and resume aid convoys on schedule. Following intense U.S. diplomatic pressure, hostilities temporarily paused again, and aid trucks re-entered Gaza the following morning.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the Israeli military to mark the Yellow Line, establishing a visible buffer zone between Israeli troops and Gaza’s civilian population. “Any breach will be met with immediate fire,” Katz warned.

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Fear and Distrust on the Ground

Eyewitnesses in southern Gaza described a tense calm. “I saw the markers from our rooftop — then rockets followed,” said Ahmed Nasser, a displaced father from Khan Younis. “Children screamed; no one felt safe even under the truce.”

His experience mirrors the fragile atmosphere across Gaza, where residents fear that any perceived violation could ignite full-scale fighting once again.

Experts Question Long-Term Commitment

Regional analysts suggest the ceasefire was never built for durability.

“This agreement always had loopholes,” said Dr. Layla Haddad, a Middle East expert at the Washington Institute. “Israel retained the right to strike if it deemed its forces threatened, while Hamas viewed hostages as bargaining tools — making de-escalation fragile from day one.”

Civil society groups in Gaza report waning confidence in international guarantees. Local NGOs accuse mediators of underestimating mutual distrust, warning that aid suspensions punish civilians far more than militants. The Gaza Health Ministry, already crippled by resource shortages, cautioned that hospitals could soon run out of essential supplies if the truce falters again.

Regional Mediation and the Road Ahead

With violence momentarily subdued, international mediators — including Egypt and Qatar, co-guarantors of the truce — are now pushing for a joint monitoring mechanism to prevent future flare-ups and ensure aid continuity.

But the deeper question remains: did Israel ever intend to fully adhere to an agreement that allowed military retaliation “at will”?

Until both sides accept mutual restraint and credible oversight, every truce risks collapsing on the same foundation of revenge, mistrust, and political expediency that fueled the war.