At least 100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s latest assault on Gaza, with the death toll continuing to rise. This is the largest escalation since the ceasefire with Hamas was brokered on January 19. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, Israel has committed numerous violations, including hindering essential aid and obstructing medical evacuations. The Gaza Government Media Office reported 265 such breaches as of February 12, with 118 Palestinians killed during this period. Israeli forces also unleashed a new wave of attacks on the West Bank following the brokering of the ceasefire, with the ongoing military operation displacing over 40,000 Palestinians and killing hundreds over the last two months.
About the current assault on Gaza, Israeli officials claim they are targeting Hamas operatives, a narrative parroted by mainstream media. But the reality is clear — this is a continuation of a genocidal policy that has already slaughtered almost 50,000 people, including children, journalists, and families seeking refuge in what little remains of Gaza’s shattered landscape. The same state that bombed refugee camps, obliterated entire neighborhoods, and targeted media offices now expects the world to believe its rhetoric of “precision strikes.”
These renewed attacks come amid the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The blockade, coupled with relentless airstrikes, has left the enclave’s 2.3 million residents in a state of perpetual fear and deprivation. The suspension of essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, has intensified the suffering of a population already on the brink.
They also arrive in the context of U.S. airstrikes on Yemen and ongoing negotiations for what would have been the second phase of a ceasefire deal. The proposed agreement would have seen Israel hypothetically committing to a permanent ceasefire in exchange for Hamas releasing the remaining living male hostages — both civilians and soldiers — in return for Palestinian prisoners. Far from taking steps toward peace, Israel has chosen more bloodshed, demonstrating once again that its goal is not security, but the continued destruction of Palestine.
Ceasefire talks were already on fragile ground before this latest round of bombings. The first phase was precarious at best, reflecting deep contradictions within Israel’s political and military establishment. Netanyahu, despite wielding some of the most advanced weaponry in the world, failed to retrieve all hostages or “completely eliminate Hamas” as it would have liked to. Instead, his year-long military campaign only brought mass death and destruction to Gaza, fueling discontent both internationally and within Israel itself. Even with Netanyahu’s temporary political maneuvers, his inability to achieve decisive military success has complicated the second phase of the ceasefire which involves negotiating who would govern Gaza, in a situation where Hamas maintains its control.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has openly embraced Israel’s project of ethnic cleansing, declaring his desire to turn Gaza into a “Riviera.” His words lay bare the true agenda of Zionist expansion: the erasure of Palestinian existence. The Trump administration’s reactionary policies are not only politically aiding Israel’s Far Right coalition but also attempting to crush the growing global movement for Palestinian liberation. From criminalizing protesters to the attempted deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, Trump and his allies within the universities are doing everything they can to silence those who stand in solidarity with Palestine.
History has shown that as long as there is oppression in Palestine, there will be resistance. The world cannot remain silent as Israel escalates its campaign of terror, nor can it accept Trump’s campaign of repression. The spirit of the youth and workers who rose up last year in defense of Palestine must be revived. Zionism and imperialism have an insatiable appetite for violence which must be put in check by the historic movement for Palestinian liberation.
